How Israel’s 'convoluted' inspections are hindering Gaza aid

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Egyptian Red Crescent members load on a truck humanitarian aid for war-torn Gaza brought by a French air force Airbus A400M cargo aircraft at El-Arish International Airport on November 20, 2023 as Israel has vowed to destroy Gaza's rulers Hamas after the Palestinian militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. About 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in Israel during Hamas's October 7 attack and around 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials — Egyptian Red Crescent members load humanitarian aid on a truck brought by a French cargo aircraft at El-Arish International Airport on Nov. 20, 2023. — Thomas SAMSON / AFP via Getty Images

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Sleeping bags. Vitamin drink powder. An ultrasound machine.

These are a few of the items that aid groups say Israeli inspectors have barred from entering the Gaza Strip over the past four months.

The denial of some humanitarian goods is complicating aid delivery in the impoverished Palestinian enclave, where the Hamas-run Health Ministry says more than 27,000 people have died in Israel’s offensive and more than 85% of the population has fled their homes.

How Israel’s 'convoluted' inspections are hindering Gaza aid

Humanitarian groups say Israel's time-consuming inspections process and denial of "dual-use" goods is hampering aid delivery in the Gaza Strip.

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