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Gaza's Food Crisis Is Due to Failed Distribution, Not Lack of Supply

(Quillette-Australia) Maj. (ret.) Andrew Fox - Gaza's humanitarian crisis has become a focal point of international debate and widespread misinformation. Distinguishing fact from fiction is crucial to understanding Gaza's aid crisis and holding the correct parties accountable. We do know that Gaza's two million residents have faced severe shortages of food, water, and medicine since the war began. We also know that by early summer, millions of tons of aid had entered Gaza, and that the U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation delivered over 100 million meals within two months. What we do not know with certainty is how much aid has actually reached Gaza's most vulnerable citizens, or how many people have truly died from starvation rather than other causes. The sheer volume of aid sent into Gaza should have prevented mass starvation. From November 2024 onwards, daily convoys carried enough food to meet the population's basic needs, and warehouses in Gaza filled up during ceasefires. However, supply is not the same as access, and much of this aid did not reach those who needed it most. The final stage of distribution broke down, particularly for families without ties to powerful factions of influential clans or militant groups. In short, Gaza's crisis was one of distribution failure rather than a lack of food. Most notably, Hamas authorities in Gaza actively undermined the distribution process. From the war's outset, Hamas openly refused any responsibility for civilian well-being. Hamas built tunnels to protect its fighters but not bomb shelters to protect Gaza's citizens. Moreover, maintaining a degree of civilian deprivation has served Hamas's interests, both financially and as propaganda. These troubling realities challenge the simple story that Israel's blockade alone caused starvation in Gaza. Sensational claims of imminent famine spread faster than the more straightforward truth that aid is available but not always reaching people. The writer, who served in the British Army in 2005-21, is a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
2025-08-14 00:00:00
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