International Community Seeks to Capitalize on Israel's Ceasefire to Aid Hungry Residents in Gaza Strip
Resumption of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza Falls Short of Meeting Urgent Needs
Following Israel's declaration of a "tactical pause" in military operations in Gaza, humanitarian aid delivery has resumed but remains severely constrained and insufficient to meet the extreme needs on the ground.
Since border crossings reopened on May 21, 2025, humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) have delivered some food aid, including 48.5 million pounds of food and around 350 truckloads of aid in the recent weeks. However, this is only about half of the convoys they requested permission to send in. Aid efforts face significant bottlenecks due to limited border crossings (only two are cleared for use), long delays (up to 46 hours to get travel permissions), large crowds awaiting aid trucks, and damaged roads causing up to 12-hour delivery journeys within Gaza [1].
Despite some deliveries, more than 2 million people in Gaza remain fully dependent on food aid, with a critical risk of famine. Over 320,000 children under five are at acute risk of malnutrition, and malnutrition rates in Gaza City have quadrupled in two months, reaching 16.5% among under-fives. Nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population (over 500,000 people) are enduring famine-like conditions. These grim indicators reflect the catastrophic impact of ongoing conflict and restrictions on aid distribution [1][2].
Aid coordination remains complex. According to reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly 23% of planned aid movements were denied by Israeli authorities in mid to late July 2025 [3]. This highlights ongoing challenges despite the tactical pause.
The UN emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stated that the United Nations will try to reach "as many starving people as we can." He emphasized the need for safe routes that avoid crowded areas and no more attacks on people gathering for food. He also called for a permanent ceasefire in addition to the current pause in military operations [1].
The UN aid chief, Tom Fletcher, did not repeat his previous statement about the UN's efforts being focused on addressing the deepening hunger crisis. He also stated that vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis. The UN and aid agencies aim to scale up aid in Gaza for a period of one week [1].
Israel has reportedly designated secure routes for UN humanitarian convoys. However, Israel's decision to support a one-week scale-up of aid was not repeated by Tom Fletcher in his recent statements [1].
In summary, while Israel's tactical pause has allowed some humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, the scale of aid delivery is still far below what is needed to prevent widespread famine and malnutrition. Restricted border crossings, delays, denied aid movements, and damaged infrastructure continue to hamper efforts to deliver aid consistently, leaving millions at severe risk. A sustainable ceasefire would be required for predictable and safe aid access [1][2][3].
[1] UN OCHA, Humanitarian Bulletin: Gaza, 1 August 2025. [2] World Food Programme, Gaza Food Security Analysis, July 2025. [3] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Gaza Humanitarian Data Dashboard, July 2025.
- The scale of humanitarian aid delivered in Gaza is insufficient, as the resumption of aid falls short of meeting the urgent needs that go beyond food and nutrition, with health-and-wellness agencies also reporting a surge in malnutrition cases among children under five.
- In the realm of politics, the United Nations continues to call for a permanent ceasefire in addition to the current pause in military operations in Gaza, emphasizing the need for safe routes that avoid crowded areas and no more attacks on people gathering for food distribution.
- Despite Israel designating secure routes for UN humanitarian convoys, the ongoing challenges in Gaza, including restricted border crossings, delays, denied aid movements, and damaged infrastructure, are hindering efforts to stave off famine and ensure general-news coverage focuses on prevention and resolution rather than the ongoing crisis.
