From Oxfam, March 15,2024:
"Under international humanitarian law, an occupying
power bears significant responsibilities towards the
occupied population, including ensuring protection,
maintaining medical services, and facilitating
humanitarian relief. Despite its responsibilities as an
occupying power, Israel’s policies and practices
continue to systematically and deliberately block and
undermine any meaningful international humanitarian
response in the Gaza Strip.
"A total of 1.7 million Palestinians (75% of the Gaza
population) are at risk of famine, especially in northern
Gaza, which is exacerbated by an overwhelming
majority not having access to clean water and
sanitation, a collapsed health sector, the severing of
power and fuel supplies and the spread of infectious
diseases. The conditions we have observed in Gaza are
beyond catastrophic, and we have not only seen failure
by Israeli authorities to meet their responsibility to
facilitate and support international aid efforts, but in
fact seen active steps being taken to hinder and
undermine such aid efforts...
"Israel’s control of Gaza continues to be characterised
by deliberate restrictive actions that have led to a
severe and systemic dysfunctionality in the delivery of
aid. Humanitarian organisations operational in Gaza
are reporting a worsening situation since the
International Court of Justice imposed provisional
measures in light of the plausible risk of genocide,
with intensified Israeli barriers, restrictions and
attacks against humanitarian personnel. Israel has
maintained a ‘convenient illusion of a response’ in
Gaza to serve its claim that it is allowing aid in and
conducting the war in line with international laws.
Over five months into the Israeli mass atrocities on the
Gaza Strip, in response to the horrific 7 October
attacks by Palestinian armed groups, a meaningful
and safe humanitarian response is made impossible
by the Government of Israel."