UN Identifies Israeli Restrictions on Two-Thirds of Gaza as Primary Aid Obstacle

The United Nations said Wednesday that Israeli restrictions on nearly two-thirds of the Gaza Strip constitute the main obstacle to humanitarian assistance and flood protection operations, according to Anadolu.

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that humanitarian partners identify restricted access to 65 percent of Gaza’s land as the primary challenge, noting that the remaining 35 percent is already overcrowded.

The restrictions come as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and partner organizations assess emergency measures to shield families from winter rainfall. Aid teams have inspected three potential relocation sites for temporary shelters to support families departing flood-prone areas near structurally unstable ruins.

In parallel, humanitarian teams are assessing more than 450 existing displacement camps that face severe flooding risks and house approximately one-fifth of Gaza’s population, Dujarric said.

He explained that large-scale voluntary relocations require extensive preparation, stressing that explosive ordnance contamination must be cleared from newly identified sites before displacement begins. Teams must also level sandy terrain, install water lines, drainage systems, and lighting, open access roads, and resolve land tenure issues.

Relief organizations also face severe logistical bottlenecks due to entry restrictions. Dujarric stressed that agencies urgently need additional Israeli permits to import heavy machinery, spare parts, engine oil, and critical supplies, along with funding for emergency fuel and durable materials to repair damaged infrastructure.

Operational hurdles have extended into healthcare delivery. While aid workers train local personnel to manage noncommunicable diseases, medical shortages severely constrain screening and treatment. Gaps remain critical in specialized cancer care, including essential chemotherapy and radiotherapy supplies, while diagnostic systems suffer from depleted generator fuel and mechanical parts, according to Dujarric.

Since October 8, 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000, while 90 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been destroyed.

Israeli violations of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement have resulted in 1,431 Palestinian deaths and 5,026 injuries, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Wednesday.

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