Refugees International Condemns Israeli Aid Obstruction As Civilians Starve
Statement from Refugees International:
“Refugees International is gravely alarmed by the near complete collapse of the humanitarian situation inside of Gaza. The United Nations’s famine analysis arm, the IPC, recently issued a new warning that all areas of Gaza face famine-level starvation in the coming months if Israel continues to blockade humanitarian aid. This is not a remote risk—it is a real-time emergency that demands urgent international action.
While starvation-related deaths have already begun, thousands of babies and young children are now in the process of dying from life-threatening food insecurity. Many have endured weeks—and in some cases, months—without adequate nutrition, their bodies reduced to skin and bone, their eyes hollow and sunken, resulting in unconscionable and unimaginable suffering.
For more than two months, the Israeli government has maintained a blockade on humanitarian access to Gaza. More than 3,000 aid trucks carrying over 116,000 metric tons of food remain stuck at the border. The entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity, and over half a million people are already facing conditions consistent with IPC Phase 5—famine.
This all comes as Israel escalates its military operations in Gaza. Civilian infrastructure continues to be hit—including a school in Gaza City sheltering displaced families. Hospitals across Gaza have been forced to scale back or shut down amid nearby fighting. Tens of thousands of civilians in and around Khan Younis have once again been told to evacuate, though there is nowhere safe to go.
The response from the international community is slowly beginning to shift, but greater urgency is required. On May 20, the governments of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada issued an important joint warning, stating they would pursue sanctions and other actions if humanitarian access is not restored immediately. More countries must follow suit.
In response to growing pressure, Israel has temporarily allowed a limited resumption of humanitarian deliveries, but nowhere near what the situation demands. At the time of writing, these deliveries have yet to enter Gaza. The scale of human need demands a dramatic increase in access—not token gestures.
Refugees International reiterates that under international humanitarian law, Israel has a clear obligation to ensure the passage of humanitarian aid to civilians under its effective control. Blocking aid, even in wartime, is unlawful.
The deliberate dismantling of the UN-led humanitarian response must end. The United Nations and its partners have developed a pragmatic, actionable plan to scale up life-saving aid inside Gaza. They must be allowed to implement it—without interference, delay, or political obstruction.
Both parties in this conflict have failed to uphold their obligations under international law. We renew our longstanding condemnation of all violations of international humanitarian law, including Hamas’ continued holding of hostages, and we call for their immediate and unconditional release. But the continued crime of holding hostages is neither a legal nor a moral grounds for starving out over 2 million civilians. Israel must allow robust aid to Gaza immediately.”
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Etant Dupain edupain@refugeesinternational.org.
Featured Image: A 18-month-old child being treated at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunus, Gaza on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Doaa Albaz/Anadolu via Getty Images)