Israel needs to ensure the security of Gaza's supply route, according to the Federal Government.
The German Armed Forces began an aid action over the Gaza Strip on Friday, dropping pallets containing food and medical equipment. This small contribution, however, is just a drop in the ocean as the region grapples with a severe humanitarian crisis.
The Gaza Strip is on the brink of famine, according to UN figures. The humanitarian aid in the region is critically insufficient and severely hampered by restrictions. Aid convoys, including those from the World Food Programme (WFP), are entering Gaza, but access is extremely limited, and only a fraction of the requested aid reaches the population in need.
Israel controls all access to the coastal region on the Mediterranean and has allowed hardly any or only a few aid deliveries to pass for several months. This limitation, combined with other bottlenecks such as limited border crossings, long delays for permissions, damaged infrastructure, and security restrictions, has further exacerbated the crisis. Approximately half of requested convoy movements are impeded or denied by Israeli authorities.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) thanked the German Armed Forces, Jordanian, and European partners for the air drops, but he emphasised that these are only a small step towards alleviating the suffering of people in Gaza. The German government continues to work intensively to enable aid via land routes.
As of mid-2025, there is no direct, recent evidence or detailed credible accounts of aid diversion by Hamas or similar groups in Gaza. Instead, the major problems highlighted are the severe shortage of food, fuel, medicine, and safe access caused by the ongoing conflict and blockades. The UN and aid agencies underscore the importance of safe and orderly aid delivery, but note that military activity, logistical challenges, and infrastructure destruction are the primary obstacles.
Since last week, 220 trucks with aid goods have been arriving in the Gaza Strip daily, and so far, 73 tons of aid goods have been dropped from the air. Despite these efforts, the price of flour is at exorbitant 80 euros per kilogram in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the critical need for increased aid deliveries.
The humanitarian catastrophe—marked by famine, malnutrition (especially in children), displacement, and medical system collapse—is unfolding primarily due to restricted access and conflict impacts rather than confirmed widespread aid diversion. The focus remains on overcoming access restrictions and escalating aid efforts to prevent widespread famine and deaths.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip have resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis, with politics playing a significant role in restricting access to aid, as evidenced by Israel's limited allowance of aid deliveries and the obstacles caused by security restrictions.
- Despite the ongoing efforts by organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and numerous aid convoys, the general news from the region indicates that the crisis is worsening due to insufficient humanitarian aid and continued restrictions, leading to a looming fear of famine and increased suffering among the people.
