Israeli restrictions on two-thirds of Gaza block aid access: UN

Israeli restrictions on access to nearly two-thirds of Gaza are the main obstacle to humanitarian relief and flood protection efforts, the UN has said.“Humanitarian partners stress that the main obstacle is restrictions on access of 65 percent of Gaza's land,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday.“The remaining 35 percent is already overcrowded.”The restrictions come as the UN humanitarian agency OCHA and partner organisations assess emergency measures to protect families from winter flooding.

Aid teams have inspected three potential sites for temporary shelters for families seeking to leave flood-prone areas near unstable structures.Humanitarian teams are also assessing more than 450 displacement camps at high risk of flooding, which house roughly one-fifth of Gaza's population, Dujarric said.He said relocation would require explosive ordnance to be cleared from new sites, along with levelling ground, installing water lines, drainage and lighting, opening access roads and resolving land tenure issues.Aid and healthcare constraintsHumanitarian organisations also face logistical restrictions, with agencies seeking Israeli permits to bring in heavy machinery, spare parts, engine oil and other essential supplies.They also need funding for emergency fuel and materials to repair damaged structures.Healthcare delivery remains severely constrained by shortages, particularly in specialised cancer care.Dujarric said gaps include chemotherapy and radiotherapy supplies, while diagnostic systems face shortages of generator fuel and mechanical parts.Gaza's Health Ministry said on Wednesday that Israeli violations of the October 2025 ceasefire agreement have killed 1,431 Palestinians and wounded 5,026.The ministry says more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 wounded in Gaza since Israel launched its genocidal war on the enclave in October 2023.