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As reports of conditions in Gaza and allegations of mass starvation circulate, we want to provide an update on the unfolding humanitarian situation.
Israel has responded forcefully, denying claims that it fires into crowds and placing the blame for the crisis squarely on Hamas. Join Jewish Federations of North America Friday, 7/24 at 10 am for a special briefing on the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza. Read the full executive summary and see the latest update on the Humanitarian Aid situation from JFNA.
In a just-released survey by Boundless Israel, nearly half of Americans are unaware that hostages from the October 7 attacks are still being held in Gaza, including at least 20 believed to be alive. The survey also revealed a sharp divide in public opinion, with fewer Americans supporting Israel’s military response and younger generations increasingly influenced by social media content that often lacks context.
Over the past two months, Israel has allowed roughly 4,500 aid trucks into Gaza—an average of 71 per day. Half have gone to Israeli-supported distribution hubs and half to UN and NGO warehouses. As of this week, nearly 1,000 loaded trucks are sitting on the Gaza side of the crossings, with enough food to feed the population for over two weeks.
In late May, Israel and its U.S. partners launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a distribution effort operating separately from the UN system. GHF now runs three main aid centers in Gaza and has delivered over 75 million meals to date. The centers are now delivering around 2 million meals per day.
The GHF system has faced strong opposition from Hamas, which promotes the idea that Gaza can be governed without them. Hamas supporters and armed groups have incited crowds at aid centers, leading to deadly chaos. In each case, large crowds rushed distribution points, resulting in fatalities. Both the IDF and GHF deny intentionally firing on civilians, stating that warning shots were fired first, targeting only individuals deemed armed or dangerous. Investigations are ongoing.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel reports facilitating over 24,700 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza—delivering nearly 470,000 tons of food, water, medicine, and shelter. Israeli leaders continue to emphasize that while they are taking steps to improve humanitarian access, the ultimate responsibility for the crisis lies with Hamas.
