Nearly 100,000 displaced in Gaza over past four days as aid blockade Intensifies
More than 97,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza over the past four days amid ongoing Israeli military operations and continued aid blockades, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Monday. The IOM called the displacement “constant” and urged that humanitarian aid not be used to influence population movements. It reiterated its demand for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access.
Since Israel closed all crossings into Gaza on March 2, aid deliveries have halted, worsening an already critical humanitarian crisis. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Sunday that a “basic quantity of food” would be allowed in to prevent famine, access remains tightly controlled.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that 92% of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, and displaced families face severe shortages of shelter and essentials.
A joint statement by more than 20 countries and the EU, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, called on Israel to allow a full resumption of humanitarian aid and permit UN and humanitarian organisations to operate independently and impartially. They warned that Gaza’s population is facing starvation and reiterated that aid must not be politicised.
The statement also criticised Israel’s newly approved aid delivery model, which the UN and aid partners say is unworkable, and emphasised the need to avoid demographic changes in Palestinian territories. It called for an immediate ceasefire and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution.
Since launching its military campaign in October 2023, Israel’s offensive has reportedly killed over 53,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local and international sources. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, and the country faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
