When the war with Iran began, the border crossings to Gaza were closed. Reports say the crossings may soon reopen. However, this has led to concern in Gaza regarding the continued supply of aid. Since the ceasefire on October 13, aid has been flowing to Gaza. When the war in Iran began, the focus on Gaza largely shifted away to other areas.
Chef Jose Andres, whose organization World Central Kitchen has been helping people in Gaza by preparing meals and doing other work, wrote on social media March 1 that “we have been told that Gaza’s borders are closed indefinitely. If they stay closed, World Central Kitchen will run out of food this week.” Andres added that “we are cooking 1M hot meals every day. We need food deliveries every single day to feed hungry families who are not part of this war. All the NGOs in Gaza need more food, medicine, medical equipment, fuel, tents, and personal care every day. We cannot wait...let the humanitarian trucks go through today!”
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) noted on March 2 that “Israel is not arbitrarily blocking aid into Gaza.” COGAT added that “due to the missile threat in the current conflict, a national state of emergency has been declared, imposing strict civil defense measures across Israel, including closures and restrictions on public activity.” It noted that this has led to the closure of crossings into the Gaza Strip, “since they cannot be operated safely. Opening the crossings under fire puts lives at risk, both personnel on the Israeli side and on the Gazan side.” COGAT said that “the crossings will reopen as soon as the security situation allows.” It also said the measure was temporary.
Reopening Kerem Shalom Crossing
COGAT noted on March 2 that in coordination with “the American Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC), it has been decided to reopen the Kerem Shalom Crossing starting tomorrow (Tuesday) for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.” A mechanism tailored to the situation will be created. This will “enable the operation of the crossing and the entry of aid in a safe manner, while providing a humanitarian response in accordance with the ongoing situational assessment and the needs identified by the UN and international organizations.”
The UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had said earlier in the week that "Israeli authorities have closed all crossings, including Rafah, and have suspended humanitarian movements in and near areas where Israeli troops remain deployed in Gaza. And they've also postponed planned rotation for our humanitarian personnel.”
The Guardian reported on the sense of distress felt by people in Gaza. “The price of a 25kg sack of flour has tripled to between 80 and 100 shekels, from about 30 shekels last week. Other essentials including sugar, nappies and cooking oil have doubled,” the report said.
As the Iran war continues, it is unclear what will happen in Gaza. The US is supposed to be working toward an international stabilization force for the enclave. A Palestinian technical committee is also supposed to assume some governance functions. However, Hamas still controls half of Gaza. Since the war in Iran began, there haven’t been major reports of clashes in Gaza. It is unclear if the war will lead to progress in Gaza over time, or if the temporary closures will leave the place in limbo. The Trump administration is now focused on a large and expanding war in the region. Gaza will not be a priority.