New Customs Rule and Restricted Deliveries Strain Gaza Food Supplies

Food supplies to Gaza have sharply fallen due to Israeli authorities imposing new customs rules on humanitarian aid and reducing commercial shipments over concerns that Hamas benefits from trade. The new restrictions have triggered fears of worsening food insecurity among Gaza's 2.3 million residents as vital routes for aid are disrupted.

Food supplies to Gaza have sharply fallen in recent weeks as Israeli authorities have introduced a new customs rule on humanitarian aid and scaled back deliveries organized by businesses, sources involved in the relief efforts told Reuters.

The new customs regulation applies to truck convoys chartered by the United Nations from Jordan to Gaza through Israel, significantly impeding aid flows. Individuals from relief organizations must now provide passport details for shipments and assume liability for any false information, a requirement that has halted aid via the Jordan route for two weeks due to legal concerns.

Simultaneously, Israel has restricted commercial food shipments to Gaza, citing concerns that Hamas is profiting from this trade. September saw the lowest levels of food and aid deliveries in almost a year, with Cogat confirming no U.N.-chartered convoys have moved from Jordan since mid-September. These twin restrictions have raised alarms among aid workers about aggravating food insecurity for Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

(With inputs from agencies.)