Israel Closes Key Gaza Aid Route as Northern Region Faces Famine Threat

Israel closes key Gaza aid route as the threat of famine remains. The EU is considering pausing a trade deal with Israel over human rights abuses, including using starvation as a method of war.

Israel Closes Key Gaza Aid Route as Northern Region Faces Famine Threat

What happened

Israel has closed the Zikim crossing, the primary aid route into northern Gaza, halting the most direct deliveries to the region most in need. The measure comes amid intensified Israeli airstrikes that have killed dozens, including during recent strikes on Deir al-Balah aid sites. Over 800 Palestinians have died trying to find food, while northern areas are on the brink of famine. Israeli authorities said they acted to prevent Hamas from confiscating supplies, though local clans working with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation deny this, saying they alone managed aid distribution.

Why it matters

Northern Gaza, home to hundreds of thousands, relies almost entirely on humanitarian aid after years of blockade-driven “de-development.” Cutting off Zikim deepens fears of famine, with malnutrition rising sharply among children. Humanitarian groups, including the UN and many governments, warn that this move significantly worsens what is already a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Spain’s Prime Minister described the situation as tantamount to “genocide,” and journalists have struggled to report amid journalists’ high fatality rates in Gaza.

What next

Israel continues to limit aid to central and southern Gaza via alternative routes, chiefly managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported financially by the US and Israel. Aid agencies and UN officials are now calling for the reopening of all crossings and secure corridors into the north. The UN Security Council is expected to convene on the crisis, while diplomatic pressure on Israel is mounting, though a ceasefire remains elusive as military operations continue. Ongoing closures risk accelerating a humanitarian disaster unless swift action is taken.

Read a full WTX News report on the genocide in Gaza