OCHA: Humanitarian movements suspended as crossings into Gaza close

2 March 2026

OCHA says the regional escalation that began over the weekend is already affecting people and disrupting humanitarian services.

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli authorities have closed all crossings, including Rafah, suspended humanitarian movements in and near areas where their troops remain deployed, and postponed planned rotations of international humanitarian staff. Medical evacuations and the return of people into Gaza have also been suspended.

OCHA stresses that people in Gaza rely on a steady flow of humanitarian and commercial goods from outside, given the limited storage capacity and destruction of livelihoods across this war-torn area.

Humanitarian partners had worked hard to maintain a sustained and predictable flow of supplies despite restrictions. But that cannot continue under a full blockade.

In recent days, partners have been forced to ration fuel, prioritizing life-saving operations – albeit at reduced capacity – as local stocks dwindle. This includes bakeries, hospitals and desalination plants. Services such as solid waste collection have been suspended. UN officials are working to secure the urgent resumption of fuel deliveries, which remains a top priority.

In some areas of Gaza city, reduced water production has left people with as little as two litres of drinking water per day. Prices of basic commodities are already rising.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces have kept most checkpoints closed largely preventing travel between Palestinian cities and governorates. This is affecting people’s access to livelihoods, basic services, and humanitarian operations.

Since the weekend, people across the West Bank have been exposed to debris falling over civilian areas amid missile and interceptor fire; while residential areas in Gaza have been exposed to continued strikes from the air, land and sea.

International humanitarian law is clear: civilians must be protected and their essential needs met, including through the unimpeded entry, movement and distribution of humanitarian assistance.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the Humanitarian Country Team in the Occupied Palestinian Territory took note of the temporary injunction by the Israeli High Court of Justice with regards to the de-registration of several international NGOs. Heads of UN agencies and partner organizations stressed that enabling the continued operations of these NGOs is essential to reaching the most vulnerable groups. They urged the Government of Israel to lift restrictions that impede aid work, and they called on the international community to help ensure the continuity of principled humanitarian assistance in line with international humanitarian law.

Related content: 

• Registration status of NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statement by the Humanitarian Country Team – Question of Palestine