Israeli Military's Obstacles to Aid in Gaza: A Closer Look at the Truth

The recent claims that the Israeli military is not preventing aid from entering Northern Gaza have been called into question by a growing body of evidence indicating otherwise. This article delves into the true extent of the Israeli military's actions and the various obstacles that aid efforts face in Gaza.

Collective Punishment and War Crimes in Gaza

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been actively preventing aid from entering Gaza, not just Northern Gaza, as a form of collective punishment. This war crime involves the penalty of an entire civilian population, in this case, Gazans, for the actions of a subset of individuals. The hope is that Gazans will either leave or be forced out or at least be cowed into submission.

Settler Involvement in Blocking Aid

Some Israeli settler groups have admitted to receiving tip-offs from the IDF and Israeli police regarding the locations of humanitarian aid trucks. These settlers then block the trucks and/or destroy the aid packages, with IDF soldiers standing by and doing nothing to intervene. Video evidence and witness accounts support these claims, showing that even when soldiers are assigned to protect the trucks, they allow settlers to destroy aid packages.

Arbitrary Rejections of Aid Trucks

Israeli truck inspectors are notorious for their arbitrary rejections of entire trucks of aid, even if only a single item is found to be unapproved. The criteria for which items are deemed "unapproved" is often variably applied. For instance, toys have been rejected because they were in wooden boxes rather than cardboard, sleeping bags have been denied due to zippers, and sanitary pads have been turned away because a nail clipper was included in the hygiene kit. These items are far from any rational assessment of threat and could easily be deemed essential for the aid recipients.

Moreover, Israel has not limited its actions to rejecting unapproved items. They have also rejected entire trucks containing approved items without providing any reason. This arbitrary and discriminatory practice has led to significant delays and shortages in aid distribution, placing Gazans in a dire humanitarian situation.

Shutdown of Border Crossings

The IDF has closed most border crossings into Gaza, a move that has severely impacted aid access. The only border crossing they did not yet control was Rafah, which is now the primary aid entry point. However, since the aid crossing at Rafah was seized, the flow of aid has significantly decreased. This has been documented in various news sources, highlighting the dire situation in Gaza and the further complications in aid distribution.

Another attempt to Mislead the Public

A recent accusation that the Israeli Army is not preventing aid from entering Gaza is unfounded. The role of the UN and other relief agencies in delaying the distribution of aid, as well as the reluctance of truck drivers to enter Gaza due to the risk of aid trucks being hijacked by Hamas, cannot be overlooked. These factors contribute to the problematic situation and further highlight the need for transparency and accountability in aid distribution.

The media and various sources have documented the obstacles faced by aid delivery, including video evidence and witness accounts. The UN and relief agencies have noted the severe delays and the impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Truck drivers are hesitant to deliver aid due to the risk of hijacking, which has further compounded the challenges of aid delivery.

Conclusion

The claims that the Israeli Army is not preventing aid from entering Gaza are unfounded and misleading. The actions of the IDF and the restrictions on border crossings have severely impacted aid distribution, placing the lives of Gazans at risk. This situation highlights the need for stricter accountability and transparency in aid delivery.