Campaigners have driven ‘aid trucks’ through Westminster
as the Government of Israel continues to prevent life-saving
aid, including food, water and medicine, from entering Gaza, and has this week banned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from delivering aid in northern parts of the Gaza Strip.

The four ‘aid trucks’ illustrate the aid deliveries that are right now being deliberately denied access by the Government of Israel and feature the words ‘Gaza is being starved’. The action
was organised by charity Save the Children and supported by Action Aid UK, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Islamic Relief UK, Action for Humanity and Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Alison Griffin, Head of Influencing at Save the Children UK, said:

“Children in Gaza are dying of malnutrition and disease. This is a direct result
of the Government of
Israel preventing life-saving aid from reaching children. Famine
is now imminent.

“The UN Security Council’s adoption of a temporary ceasefire resolution is a first step in providing children and families in Gaza with respite from nearly six months of bombing, maiming,
and starvation. More than ever, Gaza’s children now need concrete actions – not words. It is imperative that the UK fulfil its obligations to ensure this resolution is implemented and children are protected.”

Seven humanitarian organisations have today joined together to call on the UK Government to urgently:

Publicly support an immediate, permanent ceasefire. This is ultimately the only sustainable way to save lives, tackle starvation and disease, and provide the strongest opportunity for hostages to be released.
Use the full strength of their diplomatic power to end the Government of Israel’s siege and denial of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Reinstate and scale-up funding to UNRWA, without which there can be no meaningful humanitarian response.
Immediately suspend arms licenses and exports to the Government of Israel given the risk that these might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Delays and denials at Israeli crossing and inspection points have left dozens of aid trucks stuck in giant queues, unable to reach those in need just miles away. This includes the rejection
of items which authorities regard as having potential “dual use,” but are critical for life-saving assistance – including hygiene materials, water pipes, blankets, anaesthetics, cancer medicines and maternity kits¹.

The latest data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) – the global scale to classify food and nutrition crises – says approximately 1.1 million people are facing
catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). For families, this means children are dying of malnutrition or being forced to live off hay and animal food.