UNRWA Reports Israel Continues to Bar International Staff and Supplies from Gaza
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has been severely compounded by a persistent blockade on aid, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reporting that Israeli authorities are continuing to prevent all international staff and key supplies from entering the territory.
This restriction comes despite a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding Israel ensure the unimpeded flow of relief.
The situation remains critical, with the UN confirming a famine was declared in Gaza Governorate in August 2025, and over two million people facing extreme hunger.
Blockade on Personnel Intensifies Crisis
UNRWA’s latest reports highlight a devastating, long-term block on the presence of its international staff, which is severely undermining the organization’s ability to coordinate a large-scale response.
Eight Months Without International Access
All UNRWA international staff have been prevented from entering the occupied Palestinian territory, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, since the end of January 2025.
This restriction follows the passage of two Israeli Knesset laws in October 2024 that prohibited UNRWA’s operations in what Israel defines as “Israeli territory” and barred contact between Israeli officials and the agency.
• Impact on Operations: The UN’s top legal body, the ICJ, found that these laws have “directly resulted in obstructions to the operations of UNRWA.” The agency, which provides services through approximately 12,000 local Palestinian staff still operating in Gaza, remains the “indispensable” backbone of relief efforts.
• Targeting of Aid: This restriction on personnel comes amid a broader pattern of obstruction. The UN Commission of Inquiry recently concluded that Israel had obstructed trusted aid agencies, including UNRWA, from bringing in essential supplies.
ICJ Ruling Ignored
The crisis is deepening just weeks after the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion on October 22nd, ruling that Israel is obligated to ensure the unhindered provision of essential aid.
The ICJ found that Israel’s restrictions put it in breach of its obligations as an occupying power under the Geneva Conventions and that it had failed to justify its campaign to restrict UNRWA.
Despite the ruling, aid levels remain restricted, and the blockade on international staff and necessary supplies, including medicines and hygiene kits, appears to be ongoing.
Famine Confirmed Amid Restricted Access
The restrictions on aid delivery have directly contributed to an escalating humanitarian catastrophe, with famine conditions spreading across the enclave.
Extreme Hunger and Displacement
According to international food security experts, a famine was declared in the Gaza Governorate area in August 2025, with projections indicating it is set to expand to other governorates.
Over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5), characterized by starvation, destitution, and death.
• Malnutrition Risk: The number of children under the age of five at risk of death due to acute malnutrition has doubled since May 2025, now standing at a projected 132,000 children.
• Ceasefire Aid: While a ceasefire agreement reached earlier in October 2025 allowed for an increase in aid—with an estimated 400 trucks crossing the border in the initial days—logistical and operational restrictions mean that the full needs of the population are not being met, keeping the situation at crisis levels.
The United Nations and human rights organizations are urgently calling on Israel’s allies to exert maximum diplomatic pressure to ensure full, unhindered access for all UN staff and relief supplies.
Headline Points: Gaza Humanitarian Blockade
• Agency: UNRWA reports Israel is blocking its international staff and supplies from entering Gaza.
• Duration: All UNRWA international staff have been prevented from entering the occupied territories for over eight months since January 2025.
• Legal Conflict: The blockade continues despite an ICJ advisory opinion ordering Israel to allow aid and cooperate with UN agencies.
• Crisis Level: A famine was confirmed in Gaza Governorate in August 2025, with over two million people facing extreme hunger due to aid obstruction.
• Staff Casualties: Over 380 UNRWA workers have been killed since the start of the conflict.
