Israel has announced a new mechanism that will allow a select group of vetted Palestinian traders to assist with humanitarian aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave deepens.
The move, aimed at improving the delivery of essential supplies and reducing reliance on international agencies, comes amid growing global outrage over widespread starvation and deteriorating living conditions in Gaza. Images and reports of children and adults dying from hunger have triggered calls for urgent action.
The policy was revealed by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), following a government decision to expand humanitarian access. The selected Palestinian traders have undergone security screening and will be permitted to distribute specific aid items.
The goods allowed under the new system include staple food items, baby formula, fresh produce, and hygiene products. All transactions are to be made via bank transfers under a strict monitoring regime, and deliveries will be subject to thorough inspections.
Israel says the strategy is intended to increase aid volumes, prevent looting by Hamas and other armed groups, and ensure that the aid reaches civilians in need rather than being diverted.
While the mechanism represents a shift toward involving the private sector in humanitarian relief, critics argue that the plan lacks transparency, particularly as the government has yet to provide details on how the distribution will be managed on the ground.
According to the UN, much of the aid currently being allowed into Gaza is not reaching intended recipients due to looting and disorder. The agency has warned of a looming famine unless access and distribution channels improve dramatically.