In a recent development, Israel's Coordinated Office of Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT) has accused the United Nations of not effectively distributing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. COGAT shared a photo on Saturday, showing a build-up of aid on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, which serves as the only land crossing between Israel and Gaza.

The post by COGAT expressed frustration, stating that approximately 400 trucks filled with aid were waiting to be picked up and distributed on the Gazan side of the crossing, following Israeli inspection. It further criticized the "logistic capacity" of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other UN agencies responsible for providing social services to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has been critical of UNRWA for years, particularly since intelligence emerged connecting employees of the agency to the October 7 attacks on Israel that initiated the ongoing conflict with Hamas. As a result, Israel has called for the defunding of UNRWA, and the United States and several other nations have frozen their donations to the agency.

Meanwhile, international agencies have raised concerns about the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, highlighting the dire conditions in the northern part of the strip. A recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that famine is imminent in the northern governorates of Gaza and could occur between mid-March and May 2024. The report also noted that acute malnutrition rates have significantly increased in the region.

The Kerem Shalom crossing, featured in COGAT's photo, has become a focal point as it is the only land crossing currently open between Israel and Gaza. The International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to increase the capacity and number of land crossing points to ensure the unhindered provision of aid to Gazan civilians.

Israeli officials, however, argue that the issue lies not in the lack of aid entry into Gaza, but in its distribution within the strip. Israel claims that Hamas, the governing group in Gaza and the target of their campaign, often seizes control of aid deliveries, hindering their provision to civilians. This further supports Israel's claim that UN agencies lack the capacity to distribute the available aid effectively.

To overcome these challenges, foreign nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Jordan, and France, have begun dropping aid packages over Gaza from the air. Additionally, the United States has initiated a project to construct a pier off Gaza's coast to facilitate the delivery of aid by sea.

The situation in Gaza remains critical as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. Efforts are needed to address the distribution of aid and alleviate the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.