Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)

On 9 October 2023, Israel intensified its blockade of the Gaza Strip when it announced a "total blockade", blocking the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war. The blockade has been credited with contributing significantly to the Gaza genocide. Israel has conditioned its lifting of the blockade with the return of the hostages abducted by Hamas, which has been criticized as collective punishment and an apparent war crime.

A few weeks after 9 October 2023, Israel eased the complete blockade, but still continued to severely restrict the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip. The first supplies entered on 21 October 2023. The blockade exacerbated Gaza's humanitarian crisis. In January 2024, Israeli authorities blocked 56% of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza. On 9 February 2024, UNRWA's director Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel had blocked food for 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza.

During the 2025 Gaza war ceasefire, Israel relaxed aid restrictions, allowing much more aid than previously.

Since 2 March 2025, Israel has completely blocked all supplies from entering the territory, making it the longest complete closure in the history of the blockade.

The blockade has created famine conditions in the Gaza Strip, which was exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes targeting food infrastructure and restrictions on humanitarian aid. In a number of incidents, Israeli protesters, including settlers, blocked aid trucks carrying humanitarian aid heading towards the Gaza Strip, and in some cases attacked them.