Families in Gaza are fighting for survival amidst a devastating winter, with children reported to be dying from hypothermia, drowning in flooded camps, and perishing in tent fires. This new layer of suffering unfolds as Israel moves to expel dozens of international aid organisations from the territory.
A Landscape of Devastation and Deprivation
The backdrop to this crisis is one of almost total destruction. After more than two years of conflict, Israel has destroyed nine out of every ten homes in Gaza. Millions of displaced Palestinians now camp in the ruins, exposed to strong winds, heavy rain, and freezing temperatures. While a recent ceasefire allowed aid deliveries to resume, averting a full-scale famine, the situation remains dire. Some 1.6 million people face acute food insecurity, and the sanitation infrastructure has completely collapsed.
Israel's 'Outrageous' Move Against Aid Agencies
In a move that has sparked international condemnation, the Israeli government announced on Tuesday that it is deregistering 37 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Gaza. These groups, which include some of the world's most respected humanitarian bodies, have been ordered to cease all operations by 1 March unless they comply with new "security and transparency standards." These standards reportedly demand the disclosure of sensitive personal details of staff members.
The list of affected organisations features major players in global relief, such as Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the Norwegian Refugee Council. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, labelled the decision "outrageous," describing it as part of a pattern of unlawful restrictions on humanitarian access. Israeli human rights groups have also warned that the move violates the core principles of independence and neutrality for aid organisations.
International Alarm and Political Stalemate
The UK, Canada, Japan, France, and six other nations have jointly warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. This latest restriction is seen as a significant escalation of one of the world's worst crises. Israel justifies its actions by claiming a need to prevent NGOs from employing staff with links to extremist groups, though it has provided little public evidence to support its allegations of Hamas infiltrating aid operations.
The demand for staff lists has caused profound alarm among aid workers, many of whom have been arbitrarily detained or killed since the war began. Meanwhile, reports indicate that while Israel blocks life-saving items like tent poles and generators from humanitarian shipments, claiming they could be used for military purposes, it permits commercial traders to bring the same goods into Gaza.
Politically, frustration is reportedly growing in Washington over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the peace process. While former US President Donald Trump recently urged a rapid move to a second phase of peace efforts, he appeared unconcerned by Israel's reluctance to withdraw from the parts of Gaza it currently controls.
Ensuring relief to civilians in such desperate conditions is not an act of charity subject to political whims; it is a fundamental requirement under international law. As Gaza endures its bleakest winter, the greatest threat to survival is not the bad weather, but the evident bad faith obstructing essential aid. The world's allies, slowly pushed into acknowledging the carnage, must not drag their feet in challenging this deepening disaster.
