{"id":315640,"date":"2026-03-02T10:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=315640"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:46:09","slug":"ocha-humanitarian-movements-suspended-as-crossings-into-gaza-close","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/ocha-humanitarian-movements-suspended-as-crossings-into-gaza-close\/","title":{"rendered":"OCHA: Humanitarian movements suspended as crossings into Gaza close"},"content":{"rendered":"

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2 March 2026<\/p>\n

OCHA says\u00a0the regional escalation\u00a0that\u00a0began\u00a0over the weekend\u00a0is already affecting\u00a0people and\u00a0disrupting\u00a0humanitarian services.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Humanitarian partners\u00a0had\u00a0worked\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a\u00a0sustained\u00a0and predictable flow of supplies\u00a0despite\u00a0restrictions. But that cannot continue under a full blockade.<\/p>\n

In recent\u00a0days, partners have been\u00a0forced to ration\u00a0fuel,\u00a0prioritizing\u00a0life-saving operations\u00a0\u2013 albeit at reduced capacity \u2013\u00a0as\u00a0local stocks dwindle. This includes\u00a0bakeries, hospitals\u00a0and desalination\u00a0plants.\u00a0Services\u00a0such as solid waste collection have\u00a0been suspended.\u00a0UN officials are working to secure\u00a0the urgent resumption of fuel deliveries, which remains\u00a0a top priority.<\/p>\n

In some areas of Gaza city,\u00a0reduced water production has\u00a0left\u00a0people\u00a0with as little as two\u00a0litres\u00a0of drinking water per day.\u00a0Prices of basic commodities are already rising.<\/p>\n

In the West Bank, Israeli forces have kept most checkpoints closed largely preventing travel between Palestinian cities and governorates. This is affecting people\u2019s access to livelihoods, basic services, and humanitarian operations.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0a\u00a0statement<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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