Gaza Under Total Siege Again: Doctors of the World Warns of Catastrophic Humanitarian Consequences

Israeli authorities reinstate a full siege on Gaza: Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde) warns against catastrophic consequences for its patients and the population and asks world leaders to act against weaponisation of deprivation of aid.

On Sunday 2 March, the Israeli government stopped all entry of supplies, including humanitarian aid, into the Gaza Strip. After systematically blocking lifesaving resources for 15 months, Israeli authorities are reinstating a full siege against the enclave by closing all crossings for the entry of humanitarian supplies. Doctors of the World knows from experience that this decision will have catastrophic consequences on people’s health.

After the ceasefire agreement entered into force on 19 January 2025, Israeli authorities lifted part of the heavy impediments imposed on entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, restoring the volume of supplies to levels seen prior to October 2023. Fifteen months of atrocities committed against Palestinians and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure have resulted in a humanitarian disaster that can only be addressed through the full, unrestricted, and large-scale delivery of lifesaving supplies and materials.

In less than two months of pause in hostilities and enhanced access, Doctors of the World and other health actors managed to re-establish primary healthcare centers in previously inaccessible areas, restore functionality, and expand services in existing structures. However, half of Gaza’s hospitals remain non-functional, northern Gaza and Rafah continue to face a shortage of health services, and the conditions for an outbreak of communicable diseases, including polio, persist.

Our efforts to restore lifesaving healthcare for Palestinians in Gaza are now being incapacitated by the reimposition of the total Israeli siege on the Strip. This dangerous decision also threatens to collapse the fragile pause in hostilities, once again trapping two million Palestinians in constant mass bombardment, destruction, displacement and starvation.

Morgane Rousseau, Director of Médecins du Monde Switzerland: “By cutting off again 2 million people from food, medicine, and other lifesaving supplies, Israeli authorities are condemning the most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, and the sick, to die from starvation, lack of medical care, and substandard shelter.”

Jean François Corty, President of Médecins du Monde France: “Humanitarian aid must never be used as a bargaining chip in political negotiations and turned on and off at will, leaving the lives of two million Palestinians in Gaza subject to the shifting tides of political agendas. The deliberate manipulation of aid as a pressure tactic is not just unacceptable; it is a grave breach of international humanitarian law. Israel, as an occupying power, holds a clear obligation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”

José Fernandez, President of Médicos del Mundo Spain: “For 15 months, world leaders have failed to apply genuine political pressure on Israeli authorities to halt the mass killing, maiming and forcible transfer of Palestinians, and the widespread destruction of their homes, schools, health system, and essential infrastructure necessary for survival. But it is never too late to act. Now is another critical moment for Third States to prove that their commitment to respecting and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law is more than just words. Now, more than ever, we must reaffirm that international humanitarian law remains relevant and applicable to all by applying real pressure on Israeli authorities to reopen all border crossings for the access of humanitarian aid and call the two parties of the conflict to commit to a permanent ceasefire.”

Press contact: media@doctorsoftheworld.org.uk