Since March. 2, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza which has intensified concerns over the fragile ceasefire. The move has drawn criticism from Türkiye, Spain and Germany, while Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has rejected further progress on the ceasefire agreement. Israel’s war on Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 61,000 Palestinians since it began.
Humanitarian Aid and Israel’s New Plan
Israel has announced that it will take direct control of all humanitarian aid entering and being distributed in Gaza. Under the new plan, only one entry point — Kerem Shalom in southeastern Gaza — will remain open. All goods will be screened and processed through newly established “logistics hubs” managed by Israel.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel allowed approximately 25,200 aid trucks — averaging 600 per day — to enter Gaza. However, the blockade has already created shortages of basic supplies.
“The truce was a deception” – Dr. Maher al-Tabbaa, Director General of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Every day in Gaza, we search for the most basic necessities and come up empty-handed.”
Ceasefire Stalemate
The decision to block aid is an attempted strategic effort by Netanyahu to renegotiate the terms of the three-phase ceasefire. Under Netanyahu’s revised proposal, Israel would release half of the remaining 59 hostages held by Hamas. However, the plan does not address the release of Palestinian detainees or the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — both of which were central to the original agreement.
The initial ceasefire, which President Donald Trump called an “epic deal,” began with the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Phase two was expected to secure the release of two dozen Israeli hostages and some three dozen bodies in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. However, Netanyahu’s plan pivots away from these terms, instead maintaining six more weeks of Israeli governance in Gaza.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to return to the region in the coming days to push for an extension of the first phase until the end of the Ramadan-Passover period, roughly 50 days. Netanyahu has expressed support for the “Witkoff Plan,” which would begin with the release of half of the remaining hostages while talks resume.
U.S. Aid and the Humanitarian Crisis
The aid blockade is not the only pressure point threatening the ceasefire’s future. USAID payments to Gaza have been frozen, leaving aid organizations unable to deliver promised supplies and services.
Before Trump took office, USAID had allocated approximately $446 million in aid to Gaza for 2025. After the ceasefire agreement, USAID secured $383 million in funding in January. However, payments have since stalled and have forced some organizations to scale back their operations.
A USAID official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that several NGOs had already spent millions of dollars expecting reimbursement that has not arrived. Some $40 million was subsequently cut under a measure barring direct cash assistance. The funding freeze has left aid groups without the resources to maintain relief efforts.
The humanitarian impact of the blockade is already being felt. The failure to provide aid could push the region back into conflict, as political tensions and humanitarian needs continue to mount.
Related
What Does Ceasefire in Palestine Really Mean?
Assad Regime Topples in Syria
How Israel’s History Is Impacting Current Events
