The United Nations has reported that three of eight planned humanitarian missions in Gaza were denied by Israeli authorities last week, as conditions in the territory remain critical despite a ceasefire agreement now in its fourth month.
According to UN officials, humanitarian teams sought coordination for eight missions aimed at delivering essential supplies and maintaining critical infrastructure. Five of those missions were fully facilitated, allowing aid workers to collect food and medical supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing, also known as Karem Abu Salem. UN personnel also monitored humanitarian cargo at loading platforms in Kissufim and Kerem Shalom.
However, three missions were blocked, including an effort to access a water treatment plant in Khan Younis. The inability to reach key infrastructure sites has raised concern among humanitarian agencies, which warn that restrictions on movement continue to limit the effectiveness of relief operations.
The ceasefire that took effect four months ago enabled a significant scale up of humanitarian assistance, helping to avert widespread famine. Even so, the United Nations says living conditions remain severe for much of the population. Nearly 1.5 million people, representing about two thirds of Gaza’s residents, are sheltering in approximately 1,000 displacement sites. Many families are living in tents, while others occupy damaged buildings that pose safety risks due to structural instability.
Relief organizations have continued to distribute tents, tarpaulins, mattresses, clothing, and other basic supplies. In January alone, humanitarian agencies reached more than 85,000 families with essential support. Despite these efforts, the scale of displacement and destruction has placed ongoing pressure on aid systems that depend heavily on secure and predictable access routes.
The situation in Gaza is unfolding alongside developments in the occupied West Bank, where political tensions have intensified. A senior Palestinian official recently criticized Israel’s decision to expand administrative control in parts of the territory, describing the move as a setback for peace efforts.
Israel’s security cabinet approved changes to the longstanding division of authority in the West Bank, modifying arrangements originally established under the Oslo Accords three decades ago. The new measures extend Israeli authority into areas previously administered by Palestinian institutions, including aspects of municipal services. They also grant expanded powers over sites designated by Israel as heritage locations, citing concerns related to water, environmental protection, and archaeological preservation.
Palestinian officials argue that the changes could sideline local authorities from planning and development decisions, including in areas that had been nominally under Palestinian administrative control.
As humanitarian operations in Gaza continue amid fragile conditions, the United Nations has reiterated the importance of sustained access and coordination to ensure that aid reaches civilians in need. The agency maintains that consistent facilitation of relief missions remains essential to stabilizing the humanitarian situation and preventing further deterioration.
