Facing mounting pressure from world leaders, Israel recently announced military “tactical pauses” to allow aid deliveries along a coastal road. Among them was President Donald J. Trump, announcing that there is “real starvation” in Gaza.
Over one thousand Rabbis worldwide have signed a letter demanding Israel to stop “using starvation as a weapon of war,” adding that “The severe limitation placed on humanitarian relief in Gaza, and the policy of withholding of food, water, and medical supplies from a needy civilian population contradict essential values of Judaism as we understand it.”
Israel began humanitarian openings in southern Gaza and is reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing for expanded humanitarian aid deliveries. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) implemented daily 10-hour “humanitarian pauses” in heavily populated zones, typically from 10 am until 8 pm. However, these measures are inadequate.
“Without consistent access and a massive scale-up of aid, these “tactical pauses” offer little real relief for many civilians,” stated Ahmed Shehata, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) Chief Executive Officer.
The borders are not open to the extent that some media reports claim and aid delivery remains limited trucks are stalled in Al-Arish, and many others await clearance from Jordan or the West Bank route.
The administrative process remains slow and cumbersome. There are warnings that aid openings might not last long, and access is fragile and contingent on military developments.
“As this crisis deepens, we remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency, compassion, and action. We are fully dedicated to providing urgent relief and long-term support to the communities suffering in Gaza. IRUSA continues to closely monitor the evolving situation and to advocate for sustained and secure humanitarian access, faster border clearances, and greater transparency in the aid approval process,” Shehata concluded.
IRUSA is working with partners on the ground in Gaza to bring emergency food, water, and hygiene kits into Gaza during the daily “pause” in fighting.
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, VA, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.