By Lara Kajs
Dispatches from the Field—The Genocide Report
Washington, DC—27 June 2024
The delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza has become increasingly dangerous and constrained, as ongoing military operations, widespread displacement, and the breakdown of basic infrastructure severely limit access to civilians in need. Attacks on humanitarian personnel, restrictions on aid delivery, and deteriorating living conditions have combined to create a crisis that raises serious concerns under international humanitarian law.
Attacks on Humanitarian Personnel and Civilians
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, humanitarian and medical personnel have faced unprecedented levels of risk. Approximately 190 United Nations staff and hundreds of medical workers have been killed in Gaza, underscoring the dangers faced by those providing lifesaving assistance.
In March, Israeli forces opened fire on civilians gathered to receive food aid, resulting in significant loss of life. Israeli authorities stated that the incident was unintentional and indicated that an investigation would follow.
In April, seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed when Israeli airstrikes struck their clearly marked convoy. The organization had coordinated its movements in accordance with Israeli procedures for humanitarian delivery. The incident prompted international condemnation, with Israeli officials again describing the strike as a mistake and issuing an apology.
In June, an Israeli airstrike struck a UN-run school sheltering thousands of displaced civilians, resulting in mass casualties. The facility was hit multiple times over several hours. Israeli authorities stated that the strike was unintended and would be investigated.
The repeated occurrence of such incidents, coupled with limited accountability, has intensified scrutiny of operational practices and compliance with international humanitarian law.
Humanitarian workers are not combatants, yet they are increasingly among the casualties of this conflict.”
Blockading Humanitarian Aid
The delivery of aid into Gaza is further constrained by significant access restrictions. Large quantities of humanitarian supplies remain staged in neighboring countries, awaiting authorization for entry. While logistical challenges and security concerns contribute to delays, humanitarian organizations report that access is frequently denied or limited.
Israeli authorities maintain that restrictions are necessary to prevent the diversion of aid by Hamas. However, aid groups and international observers report that denials of access requests—particularly in northern Gaza—have significantly reduced the volume of assistance reaching civilians.
Fuel shortages present an additional barrier. Without sufficient fuel, aid convoys cannot operate effectively, and essential services—including hospitals, water systems, and sanitation infrastructure—cannot function. Even when aid enters Gaza, ongoing airstrikes and active hostilities complicate distribution, placing both aid workers and civilians at continued risk.
Concerns have been raised by international legal bodies and humanitarian organizations regarding the potential use of starvation as a method of warfare. Restrictions on the entry and distribution of food, water, and medical supplies, when combined with the scale of civilian need, raise serious legal and ethical questions.
Humanitarian Crisis
Living conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate rapidly. Repeated displacement has forced large segments of the population into increasingly confined areas with limited access to basic services. The cumulative effect of multiple ground operations has concentrated civilians into overcrowded environments with inadequate sanitation and healthcare.
Basic infrastructure has largely collapsed. Limited access to functioning sanitation systems has resulted in the spread of disease, including acute diarrheal illness and hepatitis. Overcrowding and the lack of clean water exacerbate these conditions, creating a public health emergency.
Healthcare capacity is critically strained. A small number of partially functioning hospitals are operating far beyond capacity, while entire communities are left without access to medical care. Fuel shortages further compromise the ability of medical facilities to provide lifesaving treatment. Thousands of patients requiring urgent care remain unable to leave Gaza due to restrictions on medical evacuation.
Without sustained and large-scale humanitarian access, the conditions necessary for survival—food, water, shelter, and medical care—remain insufficient for the civilian population.
International Response
Efforts to supplement aid delivery through alternative mechanisms, including airdrops and maritime corridors, have produced limited results. Structural challenges and security conditions continue to impede their effectiveness.
At the same time, international legal and humanitarian bodies have called for increased access, protection of civilians, and adherence to international law. The scale of the crisis has intensified calls for a ceasefire and for measures to ensure the safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Bottom Line
The delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza is not simply a logistical challenge—it is a legal and moral imperative. The combination of access restrictions, ongoing hostilities, and attacks on humanitarian personnel has created conditions in which lifesaving assistance cannot reach those who need it most.
Ensuring the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and facilitating unimpeded access to aid, are fundamental obligations under international law. Without immediate and sustained action, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will continue to deepen, with devastating consequences.
Atrocity Prevention Lens
Restrictions on humanitarian aid, combined with large-scale displacement and attacks on civilians, are key indicators of mass atrocity risk. The obstruction of essential resources and the targeting of humanitarian personnel increase civilian vulnerability and contribute to conditions that may facilitate further large-scale harm. Effective prevention requires immediate measures to ensure humanitarian access, protect civilians, and enforce compliance with international legal obligations.
Legal Framework
International Humanitarian Law
Parties to a conflict are required to protect civilians and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. Attacks on humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure violate these principles.
Protection of Humanitarian Personnel
Under international law, humanitarian workers are protected persons. Deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against them may constitute war crimes.
Prohibition of Starvation as a Method of Warfare
International law prohibits the use of starvation against civilians and requires that parties allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief.
Obligations of Parties to the Conflict
All parties must ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need and must refrain from actions that impede access to essential resources.
Suggested Citation
Kajs, Lara. “Delivering Lifesaving Aid into Gaza.” Dispatches from the Field. The Genocide Report, Washington, DC, 27 June 2024.
Photo credit
UN Women and the Egyptian Red Crescent deliver humanitarian aid to women and children in Gaza by UN Women Arab States. Licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0
About TGR
The Genocide Report (TGR) publishes analysis and educational resources on conflict, international law, and atrocity prevention. Its work seeks to bridge academic research, field realities, and public understanding of mass violence and civilian protection.
About the Author
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, a Washington, DC-based educational nonprofit focused on atrocity prevention and international law. She is the author of several field-based books on conflict, displacement, humanitarian crises, and international humanitarian law, drawing on extensive research and field experience in Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan. Her writing and public speaking focus on atrocity crimes, forced displacement, the protection of civilians, and the legal frameworks governing armed conflict.