Gaza Herald _Humanitarian and food supplies entering the Gaza Strip have sharply declined as Israel continues tightening restrictions on border crossings following the start of the Israeli-US attacks on Iran.
Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of Gaza’s Government Media Office, said the crossings have operated only at a very limited capacity in recent weeks. According to him, only 640 aid trucks have entered Gaza out of the 6,000 trucks that were supposed to arrive during the same period under existing arrangements, representing no more than 10 percent of the actual needs, according to Anadolu Agency.
Large gap between aid and needs
Al-Thawabta said the figures reflect a significant gap between the growing humanitarian needs in Gaza and the volume of aid allowed into the territory. The shortfall has placed critical sectors under increasing pressure to maintain essential services for the population.
Official data indicate that these developments are part of a broader pattern of failing to uphold understandings related to facilitating aid deliveries into Gaza.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Israel has intensified restrictions on the enclave, tightening the blockade and imposing additional controls on border crossings while regulating the flow of vital supplies.
According to al-Thawabta, the measures have further deepened the humanitarian and service crisis facing more than 2.4 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.
Data on truck movements highlights the widening gap between what Gaza requires and what actually enters the territory.
“Only 36,720 trucks have entered Gaza so far out of the 88,800 trucks that were expected during this period, representing a compliance rate of just 41 percent,” al-Thawabta said.
The decline reflects continued disruptions in the flow of both humanitarian and commercial supplies, including food products and essential goods.
Energy shortages worsen the crisis
The crisis is not limited to food supplies but also affects energy deliveries, which are crucial for operating vital facilities across the enclave.
Al-Thawabta said only 1,081 fuel trucks had entered Gaza out of the 7,400 trucks that were supposed to arrive, representing just 14 percent of the required amount.
“At the same time, the entry of cooking gas remains blocked, creating a severe shortage affecting both household use and essential services,” he added.
Markets under pressure
The sharp drop in incoming supplies has directly affected Gaza’s local markets. According to al-Thawabta, vegetable markets, food stores and frozen goods suppliers have been hit particularly hard as the quantity of goods entering the territory declines.
The shortage has pushed prices up significantly at a time when residents are already struggling with declining purchasing power and rising poverty levels.
Meanwhile, the lack of fuel has forced many key sectors to reduce or suspend operations, particularly water and sanitation services, as several pumping and treatment stations have stopped functioning.
Municipal services have also been scaled back, including waste collection and the operation of water wells, due to the lack of fuel needed to run equipment and generators.
The fuel shortage is also affecting the healthcare sector, where hospitals and medical facilities rely heavily on generators to maintain operations.
Food security at risk
Al-Thawabta warned that continued restrictions on humanitarian aid and essential supplies threaten the food security of more than 1.5 million people in the coastal enclave.
According to Palestinian sources, Israeli forces have continued daily violations of the ceasefire since October 10, 2025, including shelling and gunfire. These incidents have resulted in 651 Palestinians killed and 1,728 injured since the truce came into effect.
Israel’s war on Gaza, launched on October 8, 2023, has lasted nearly two years and, according to Palestinian figures, has killed more than 72,000 people and wounded around 172,000, while destroying about 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.
Since February 28, Israel and the United States have also carried out attacks on Iran. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and what it describes as US interests in several Arab countries, causing casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
