DaysofPal- Economic experts have dismissed Israel’s new plan to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza through selected areas, warning it’s a political maneuver aimed at creating an alternative administrative reality while sidelining official Palestinian institutions and international organizations.
Economist Mohammad Skeik said the plan involves distributing aid in specific zones via Israeli-approved teams with no coordination with Palestinian or UN agencies. He described it as a “recycled strategy that previously failed,” aimed at establishing an administrative model that serves the Israeli political and security agendas.
Skeik accused the Israeli occupation of exploiting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis to revive divisive projects such as the “village and city linkages” model, historically used to fragment Palestinian governance and society. He argued that aid is being weaponized—turned from a basic right into a tool of political blackmail.
Citing past examples, Skeik criticized aerial aid drops, calling them “more symbolic than practical,” as the supplies often fall randomly, creating chaos and failing to reach those most in need. He also referenced the so-called “floating pier” maritime corridor, which collapsed due to logistical and security challenges. “The aid that entered through it was insufficient and bound by political conditions that hindered its continuity and effectiveness,” he said.
Skeik stressed that the real solution lies in reopening land crossings—particularly Rafah—under a fair system led by legitimate authorities to ensure dignified and organized aid delivery.
He warned that worsening hunger could drive desperate civilians to the Israeli-designated aid zones, but said such schemes are fragile and unsustainable amid Gaza’s total humanitarian collapse.
Gaza is facing catastrophic living conditions as the war continues, with growing hunger and severe shortages of essentials due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and closure of border crossings. According to the World Food Program, food stocks inside Gaza have run out, raising the risk of mass starvation.
UN reports show hunger has reached “extreme levels,” with food prices soaring over 1000% compared to pre-war figures, making basic survival increasingly out of reach for most families.
Economist Khaled Abu Amer said the Israeli strategy appears to target the dismantling of UNRWA’s role—the main international body responsible for aid delivery in Gaza for decades under a recognized legal mandate.
Speaking to the Palestine newspaper, Abu Amer warned that the Israeli occupation aims to replace global institutions with weak local entities unable to manage the crisis, thereby marginalizing the Palestinian issue, particularly the refugee question, and transforming aid into a mechanism of control.
He emphasized that bypassing international frameworks and sidelining UNRWA not only worsens the humanitarian crisis but also risks triggering chaos and direct Israeli dominance over Gaza’s daily life in the absence of oversight.
UNRWA has warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with over 3,000 aid trucks stalled at crossings awaiting Israeli clearance. As the crisis deepens, child deaths from hunger and malnutrition continue to rise, with no comprehensive solution in sight.
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