Israel’s seizure of Rafah crossing chokes Gaza of crucial aid: UN agencies

Israel’s capture of the Rafah border crossing means Gaza is “choked off” of aid, UN agencies say.

UN humanitarian office spokesperson Jens Laerke said Israel has closed both the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israeli proper and the Rafah crossing from Egypt.

“The two main arteries for getting aid into Gaza are currently choked off,” Laerke said, adding UN agencies had very low stocks inside the Gaza Strip. The enclave has just a one-day buffer of fuel supplies, he said. 

“If no fuel comes in for a prolonged period of time it would be a very effective way of putting the humanitarian operation in its grave,” he said.

The World Food Programme echoed those dire warnings.

“Erez will simply not be enough,” James Elder, a spokesperson for the United Nations children’s agency said, referring to a northern border crossing where aid is trickling in.

“If Rafah gate closes for an extended period, it’s hard to see how famine in Gaza can be averted.”