Euro-Med: Israel exploiting Iran war to escalate starvation in Gaza
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said Israel is exploiting the international focus on the war with Iran to intensify its policy of starving civilians in the Gaza Strip, noting that Israeli forces have closed the crossings leading into the enclave.
In a press statement on Monday, the Geneva-based organization said Israeli authorities closed all crossings with Gaza on February 28, suspending the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, and commercial supplies.
According to the group, Israel partially reopened the Kerem Abu Salem crossing on March 3 to allow limited amounts of fuel and aid shipments into the territory.
The rights monitor reported that since the crossing reopened until the end of last week, only dozens of trucks had been allowed to pass, about 30 trucks fewer than the daily average permitted before the outbreak of the war with Iran.
It added that Israel has not adhered to commitments outlined in the ceasefire agreement, particularly regarding the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza.
Under the truce agreement, which took effect on October 10, 2025, approximately 600 trucks per day were supposed to enter the enclave. However, official data shows that the actual number of trucks allowed in has not exceeded 41% of that amount.
The shortage of fuel has continued to paralyze vital sectors, including hospitals, water and sewage networks, relief services, and transportation.
In a related development, Iyad Al-Shorbaji, head of Gaza’s General Petroleum Authority, told the Sanad News Agency that the territory requires about 8,000 tons of cooking gas per month, an average daily consumption of around 260 tons. However, the quantities currently allowed in do not exceed 20% of the actual need.
Euro-Med Monitor also said that Israeli authorities are providing misleading figures regarding the volume of aid entering Gaza and have refused to allow independent international monitoring of aid deliveries.
The organization stressed that this situation not only constitutes a violation of the ceasefire agreement but also forms part of acts that may amount to the crime of genocide.
Earlier, Israeli authorities announced the closure of all crossings in the Palestinian territories, including the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, until further notice, citing the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
The closure of the crossings, particularly Rafah, halted the entry of humanitarian and medical aid into the Gaza Strip amid worsening humanitarian conditions and severe shortages of essential supplies. Israel later announced on March 2 that the Kerem Abu Salem crossing would be gradually reopened to allow limited humanitarian aid into the territory.