The World Food Programme (WFP) has condemned any violence causing death or injury to desperate Palestinians attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, calling such acts “absolutely unacceptable.” The agency urgently called on Israeli authorities to reopen border crossings that have been sealed for months, choking off critical supplies.

Over the past four weeks, the WFP has managed to deliver only 9,000 tons of food into Gaza, far short of what the 2.1 million hungry residents require. The programme highlighted that many have tragically died trying to reach the limited aid trickling into the besieged enclave.

The WFP stressed the urgent need for safer convoy routes, faster permit processing, reliable communication, and reopening of multiple crossings to facilitate aid delivery. It criticized the controversial “Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation,” backed by Israel and the U.S. but rejected by the UN, which has taken over aid distribution since May 27 outside international supervision.

Fearing starvation, large crowds gather along known transport routes hoping to intercept scarce supplies, increasing the risk of deadly incidents. The WFP reiterated its call for protection of civilians and aid workers delivering life-saving assistance.

During a previous truce from January to March 2025, the WFP successfully delivered up to 600 trucks daily, mitigating hunger temporarily. The agency confirmed that it has sufficient supplies, skilled logistics teams, and tested systems ready to scale up, but stressed that a new ceasefire is essential to safely reach families across Gaza.

Delays in aid risk costing more lives. “We must be allowed to carry out our work safely,” the WFP warned, underscoring the urgent need for international action to prevent further tragedy.