While the United States contend that Israel has taken important steps to address the US concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza following the US letter of 13 October, 29 INGOs report that the facts on the ground expose a starkly different reality, with humanitarian access reaching an all-time low this past month.

In the seventh edition of the INGO Humanitarian Snapshot, Médecins du Monde and 28 other aid organizations report key facts of aid obstruction affecting their life saving operations between the period of 10 October to 13 November:

•In North Gaza governorate, Israel has blocked attempts by aid organizations to deliver aid to besieged civilians. Palestinian NGOs partnering with Islamic Relief, War Child, Oxfam, CARE, MdM, MECA and IRC had to suspend lifesaving operations in areas such as Beit Lahia and Jabalia due the renewed Israeli military assault. At least 7 organizations reported that their movements were denied for humanitarian operations, impacting water trucking and delivery of life-saving aid.

•Aid entry into Gaza remains obstructed, as 10 INGOs report extensive delays in getting their shipments into the Gaza Strip. Some organizations have not been able to get their aid in despite more than 10 months of waiting at the border.

•Attacks on aid workers continued, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 20 aid workers from both Palestinian and international organisations. On 7 November, a Solidarités International WASH team was fired upon by what they perceived to be a quadcopter, while moving to a site in Nuseirat to provide water.

•Israeli forced displacement orders and movement restrictions have also halted key activities for many organizations in the South of the strip. 3 INGOs reported suspension of operations due to displacement orders in the South, including an MdM-supported primary healthcare center. 7 INGOs reported that their movement requests have been either denied by Israeli authorities (including inside the Israeli-designated ‘humanitarian zone’) or canceled due to unsafe operational areas, lack of fuel or unusable infrastructure.