Israel's blockade of Gaza, intensified after October 2023, created famine conditions and drew widespread international condemnation as collective punishment.
Key Facts
- Blockade intensified
- 9 October 2023, declared 'total blockade'
- First aid entry after blockade
- 21 October 2023
- Aid blocked to northern Gaza (Jan 2024)
- 56% of humanitarian aid
- Palestinians denied food (Feb 2024)
- 1.1 million people
- Deaths near aid sites (from May 2025)
- Over 1,400 Palestinian deaths
- Countries calling for end to blockade
- 27 European countries and 100+ aid organizations
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war, Israel announced a 'total blockade' on 9 October 2023, cutting off food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity to the Gaza Strip. Israel stated it would lift the blockade only upon the return of hostages taken by Hamas.
Israel imposed and maintained a severe blockade on the Gaza Strip, restricting or entirely halting the entry of humanitarian aid. Periods of complete closure alternated with partial relaxations under international pressure, including a brief easing during the January 2025 ceasefire, before a full closure was reimposed on 2 March 2025.
The blockade created famine conditions in Gaza, with aid organizations and over 100 international bodies condemning it as collective punishment. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed near aid distribution sites after May 2025. The blockade has been cited as contributing significantly to what has been described as a genocide in Gaza.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent