Israel admits to destroying over 1,000 aid trucks as famine grips Gaza

The Israeli military has acknowledged destroying vast quantities of humanitarian aid destined for Gaza, amid what international organisations are calling a catastrophic famine affecting the entire population of the besieged enclave.

More than 1,000 truckloads of food and medical supplies were deliberately destroyed by the Israeli army, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

The report cited military officials who admitted, “There are thousands of parcels left under the sun, and if they are not transported to Gaza, we will be forced to destroy them.”

The announcement comes as severe hunger spreads throughout Gaza, where humanitarian experts warn of an unprecedented crisis.

Over 21 months of intense conflict, siege, and aid blockages have left more than 2.3 million people struggling to access necessities.

The Israeli authorities have attributed the destruction of aid to alleged breakdowns in Gaza’s internal distribution systems. However, critics argue that the move reflects a wider strategy of obstruction. Humanitarian agencies have long accused Israel of restricting or delaying shipments, with reports of tonnes of food, water, and medical goods perishing at border crossings.

Conditions inside Gaza have deteriorated rapidly. Residents are said to be subsisting on grass, animal feed, and flour made from dried corn husks. With access to food almost entirely cut off, displaced families are scavenging for survival. Hospitals and shelters have reported increasing deaths due to malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza says at least 122 people, most of them children, have died from starvation-related causes. Aid agencies estimate that 11.5% of children are now suffering from severe acute malnutrition—a level classified as “catastrophic” by international health standards. Due to the collapse of Gaza’s health infrastructure, humanitarian groups believe the true extent of the crisis is likely far worse.

The destruction of aid is not being viewed as an isolated occurrence. Rather, it is seen as part of a broader pattern stemming from Israel’s long-standing blockade of the coastal territory. Since the latest war began, restrictions have intensified, leaving humanitarian corridors virtually paralysed.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, condemned Israel’s actions: “We need sanctions now,” he said. “Condemnations are not enough. Israel is obstructing the entry of aid, which is piling up at the borders in full view of the world.”

Fakhri went on to say that the starvation in Gaza amounts to collective punishment and may constitute a component of genocide. He called for sustained international and regional pressure to ensure aid access and to lift the blockade.

The growing crisis has sparked global outrage, with mass demonstrations taking place in cities including London, New York, Paris, Istanbul, and Johannesburg. Protesters are demanding an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade, and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare. A growing chorus of legal experts and UN officials argue that the Israeli government’s actions may violate the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law.

Despite mounting criticism, Israeli officials continue to shift blame. Government spokespeople have claimed that the failure to distribute aid stems from the breakdown of civil infrastructure in Gaza—much of which has been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes.

By Aghakazim Guliyev