The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC) and the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) condemn Israel’s continued use of starvation as a weapon of war and an act of genocide.  Israel’s decision to re-impose a total blockade of all humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, particularly during the month of Ramadan, is yet another example of Israel violating the ceasefire agreement and provides further proof of its manifest intent to eliminate Gaza’s population by creating conditions of life calculated to bring about their destruction, in continuing breach of Provisional Measures of the International Court of Justice.

Just days prior to the total blockade, COGAT, the Israeli army unit responsible for administering the military occupation, unveiled a plan for establishing “humanitarian hubs” in Gaza. Under the plan, COGAT will dictate the distribution of urgently needed humanitarian aid to “vetted Palestinians” only, in areas under full control of the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF), which will expand over time. All crossings in and out of Gaza will be permanently closed under the plan, with only the Karem Abu Salem crossing permitted for the entry of humanitarian aid. With Israel evading the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, COGAT’s plan – presented to the UN and aid organisations – is a concerning development in its ongoing genocide and represents a clear advancement of its annexation of Palestinian territory.

Starvation as a tool of genocide and a violation of IHL

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have suffered from and been in immediate danger of starvation and malnutrition throughout the last 16 months of genocide. Since the establishment of the fragile ceasefire agreement, more than 3,000 children in Gaza have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. The Food Security Sector (FSS) has warned that if the disruption to aid entry continues, at least 80 community kitchens may soon run out of stock, while those that remain operational will be forced to reduce the already insufficient food rations. Gaza’s entire agricultural infrastructure and resources have been destroyed, and 91 percent of its population faces high levels of food insecurity, with almost 400,000 more Palestinians facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Israel’s decision to block all food - along with all other forms of aid - from entering the territory demonstrates a deliberate plan to continue killing Palestinians by imposing conditions of life calculated to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.[1]

By blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and planning to establish “humanitarian hubs” for the distribution of aid, Israel is in violation of its legal obligation as an Occupying Power to provide for the civilian population under its unlawful occupation and control. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel is required to ensure humanitarian organizations unimpeded access to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians under occupation.[2] Israel is in further violation of this requirement by its sustained assault against UNRWA, which it has banned from operating in Israel or having any contact with Israeli authorities.[3] COGAT’s plan to establish “humanitarian hubs” under full Israeli control would make it impossible for UNRWA to carry out its mandate, which it is already struggling to do since the Knesset’s crippling legislation took effect on 1 February 2025.

Even with the presence of humanitarian organizations, however, Israel remains obligated to provide sufficient food, medical supplies, and other necessary resources to maintain the health and hygiene of the population under its occupation and control.[4] Israel must permit the transit of relief on its way to occupied territory, which, subject only to imperative military reasons, protected persons must be permitted to receive.[5] Finally, starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare and “wilfully impeding relief supplies” are strictly prohibited war crimes. [6] It is also prohibited to “attack, destroy, remove, or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population,” including food, medical supplies, and clothing, among other essentials.[7]

Humanitarian organisations must not comply with “humanitarian hubs” plan

Humanitarian organizations must reject and refuse the unlawful COGAT plan to distribute aid through IOF-controlled distribution points to “vetted Palestinians” only. If humanitarian organizations comply with “humanitarian hub” distribution points, they risk legitimizing and contributing to Israel’s obstruction of the entry and distribution of aid, and may thus be complicit in violating international humanitarian law through their logistical or diplomatic support for a policy of collective punishment. Furthermore, humanitarian organizations are bound by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. By complying with a plan in which the  Occupying Power determines the amount of humanitarian aid allowed entry and who may receive it, humanitarian organizations are in violation of their duty to provide relief to all those in need without distinction or discrimination and risk turning into agents of the military occupation.

“Humanitarian hubs” will further entrench the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory

The international community must stop the COGAT plan from being implemented in order to prevent the acceleration of the ongoing genocide, since it would paralyse what is left of the emergency response, as well as the further fragmentation and annexation of Palestinian land. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal, and UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24 demanded that the occupation must be dismantled by September 2025. By allowing the Israeli military to establish IOF-controlled “humanitarian hubs” that will be expanded in size over time, the IOF will exercise more control over the Gaza Strip and further entrench apartheid and the illegal military occupation of Palestinian territory in violation of the Palestinian right to self-determination.

Recommendations:

In this regard, the international community must act urgently to stop the use of starvation and total deprivation of aid as both a weapon of war and a genocidal act against the Palestinian people. The environment of total devastation created by Israel means that bombs do not need to be dropped in order to kill Palestinians in Gaza. States, international organisations, institutions, and the general public must outright reject Israel’s total blockade and COGAT’s plan.

1. Rather than deepening the blockade and denying the little amount of humanitarian aid that has been allowed entry, all crossings in Gaza must be fully opened and the number must be increased to ensure the provision of life-saving aid at scale;
2. Humanitarian supplies must be allowed full unimpeded access to Gaza, including the removal of the “dual-use” list;
3. The illegal occupation and apartheid must be dismantled and concrete steps to advance the Palestinian right to self-determination and return of Palestinian refugees must be taken;
4. UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, whose work is crucial to ensuring the survival of Palestinians in Gaza, must be supported in their emergency response.