Israel Bars Aid Groups from Gaza, Doctors Without Borders Among Those Blocked

Israel Blocks Humanitarian Groups from Entering Gaza

Gaza City—In a move that has drawn swift international condemnation, Israeli authorities announced Wednesday they will bar a range of foreign aid organizations—including the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF)—from accessing the Gaza Strip, citing what officials described as “security concerns and operational violations.”

What the New Restrictions Mean on the Ground

At the Rafah crossing, a dusty gateway that has become the main artery for humanitarian supplies, trucks carrying surgical kits and oxygen cylinders were turned back for the third consecutive day. Aid workers say the restrictions amount to a near-total blackout of medical relief at a moment when Gaza’s hospitals are running on back-up generators and sterilization equipment is being re-used.

“We have 47 children waiting for chemotherapy that we can no longer guarantee,” said Dr. Layla Barakat, MSF’s emergency coordinator, speaking by phone from Cairo after her team was denied entry. “This isn’t politics—it’s life support.”

Israel’s Position

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) released a two-page statement arguing that some humanitarian convoys had been “exploited to ferry dual-use materials” and that “terrorist elements” had attempted to hide communications gear inside medical crates. The government did not provide evidence when asked by reporters, but officials insisted the ban would remain “until new inspection protocols are finalized.”

Humanitarian Fallout

• Pharmacies: More than 60% of essential medicines are now out of stock, according to the World Health Organization.
• Water: Desalination plants need chlorine and spare parts that were scheduled to arrive with MSF’s convoy.
• Fuel: Hospital directors warn they have less than 48 hours of diesel to operate intensive-care ventilators.

International Reaction

The U.S. State Department called on Israel to “facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access,” while the European Union’s foreign policy chief suggested the restrictions could breach international humanitarian law. Inside Israel, however, public opinion appears divided. A snap poll by Channel 12 found 54% of respondents support tighter oversight of aid convoys, echoing fears that Hamas could divert supplies.

What Happens Next

Behind closed doors, diplomats are floating a compromise: a neutral third-country inspection force—possibly from Cyprus or the UAE—that would pre-screen cargo before it reaches Gaza. Yet even that proposal hinges on Israel reopening the crossings, something officials say will not happen until “concrete guarantees” are in place.

Until then, the humanitarian clock keeps ticking. In the corridors of Al-Shifa Hospital, nurses have started manually squeezing airbags to keep premature babies breathing. “We are improvising survival,” Dr. Barakat said. “But improvisation has an expiration date.”