The Best Way to Deal With Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

Introduction

When Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel on April 13, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza seemed to move to the back burner. But even if the Israel-Hamas war expands, the world—and Israel—must not lose focus on helping Gazans get health care, find shelter, and receive food and water. No Israeli effort to stave off an Iranian threat, much less defeat Hamas for good, can succeed without a strong humanitarian aid component. Israel will need allies if the conflict widens, and the current situation in Gaza—some 1.7 million people are already displaced, and much of the population is believed to be at the risk of famine—continues ​to degrade Israel’s reputation in the Middle East and worldwide. And the inadequate coordination of operations that plagues aid delivery, spotlighted by the tragic April 1 killing of seven staff members of a World Central Kitchen aid convoy, is further undermining Israel’s military efforts.

The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play a crucial role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The SDGs aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, and they provide a framework for countries to work together to address global challenges, including poverty, hunger, and inequality. In the context of Gaza, the SDGs can guide efforts to provide health care, shelter, food, and water to the affected population. By prioritizing the SDGs, Israel and the international community can ensure a comprehensive and results-oriented strategy for delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Israel’s Reactive Approach to Humanitarian Aid

Israel’s approach to securing humanitarian assistance for Gazan civilians has largely been reactive. It has generally increased the amount of aid it lets in only when pressed to do so. This ad hoc approach is not sufficient to address the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and undermines Israel’s military efforts. Instead, Israel’s leadership must recognize that delivering aid to Gaza is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity in its war effort.

The Role of the Palestinian Authority (PA)

International actors should push to give the Palestinian Authority a key role in the aid effort and pressure Israel to allow meaningful PA involvement. Integrating the PA more fully into Gaza relief operations can bring greater efficiency to aid delivery, strengthen the new PA government, support the West Bank’s economy, and reconnect Gaza with the West Bank in tangible ways. This integration aligns with the SDGs’ goal of promoting partnerships for sustainable development.

Challenges in Aid Delivery

The challenges of delivering aid to Gaza reflect long-standing problems. Israel’s conflicting policy toward Gazan civilians, stringent inspections of goods, and vetting of aid workers complicate access for outside actors. Aid delivery has mainly been handled by the UN, but trust issues between Israel and the UN have hindered effective coordination. The involvement of Hamas in aid distribution further inhibits successful humanitarian efforts. Additionally, disorder on the Egyptian side and tensions between the UN and Israel have hampered aid deliveries.

Recommendations for Improving Aid Delivery

• Establish a clearer, more comprehensive, and results-oriented strategy for aid delivery in Gaza.
• Give the Palestinian Authority a leading role in relief operations to leverage its presence in Gaza and strengthen the West Bank’s economy.
• Shift from in-kind donations to cash-equivalent transfers to stimulate the private sector and lower the risk to aid supplies and staff.
• Improve coordination between Israel, the UN, and other international organizations to streamline aid delivery.
• Adopt a mechanism that competently coordinates operations between the Israel Defense Forces’ civilian and military efforts in Gaza.

The Importance of a Long-Term Plan

Ad hoc solutions to aid distribution are useful in the short term but can lead to chaos without a clear long-term strategy. Israel’s leadership must endorse a coherent, detailed, and realistic day-after plan for Gaza that addresses both immediate relief and medium- to long-term recovery and reconstruction. This plan should prioritize the involvement of the Palestinian Authority and support a two-state solution.

The Role of the International Community

The United States, Europe, and regional players such as Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia must support the Palestinian Authority’s formal role in Gaza’s aid efforts. This support should be accompanied by a clear commitment to advancing a two-state solution. Israeli leaders need to see evidence that empowering the PA in Gaza does not threaten their security and can contribute to long-term stability.

Conclusion

By prioritizing the Sustainable Development Goals and adopting a comprehensive and strategic approach to humanitarian aid in Gaza, Israel and the international community can address the humanitarian crisis, strengthen Gaza’s ties with the West Bank, and pave the way for a durable peace. This approach requires coordination, flexibility, and a commitment to long-term planning. It is crucial for Israel’s military efforts, its reputation in the Middle East and worldwide, and the well-being of the Gazan population.

About the Author

• Shira Efron is the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Director of Policy Research at the Israel Policy Forum. She has extensive experience in researching and addressing Gaza’s humanitarian challenges.