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Humanitarian aid to Gaza drops sharply amid crossing restrictions

March 13, 2026 at 11:33 am

A charity organization distributes meals to displaced Palestinians at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp during the holy month of Ramadan, as food shortages continue amid Israeli attacks and ongoing restrictions on the entry of aid in Gaza City, Gaza on March 03, 2026. [Moiz Salhi – Anadolu Agency]

Humanitarian and food aid entering the Gaza Strip has sharply declined due to continued Israeli restrictions on border crossings, deepening the humanitarian crisis facing more than 2.4 million Palestinians in the enclave.

Dr Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, said that the crossings have been operating only on a very limited basis in recent weeks and that the aid reaching the Strip represents only a small portion of what is needed.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, al-Thawabta explained that Gaza has received only 640 aid trucks out of the 6,000 trucks that were expected to enter during the recent period under existing understandings.

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He said this amounts to around 10 percent of the Strip’s actual humanitarian needs, highlighting the growing gap between the scale of the crisis and the assistance permitted to enter.

Al-Thawabta added that the restrictions pose serious challenges for essential sectors attempting to maintain basic services for the population.

According to official figures, the situation reflects a recurring pattern of limited compliance with agreements related to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

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