Israeli NGOs Facilitate Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Israeli non-governmental organizations are quietly connecting the military with international groups to secure humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians. “We have become this informal connector and facilitator between Israeli authorities and the humanitarian community,” shared Yotam Polizer, the CEO of Islide.
Islide, now deemed the largest humanitarian group in Israel, operates in 64 countries.
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Polizer highlighted growing concerns regarding humanitarian conditions in Gaza, noting that malnutrition has spread across the region. Food aid isn’t sufficient alone; civilians are also in dire need of medicine, clean water, and nutritional support. “We know that once we reach severe malnutrition levels, only rice and flour do not solve the problem,” Polizer emphasized, adding the necessity for dietary supplements and protein.
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For nearly five months, the assistance flow was sporadic at best. However, the situation has somewhat improved in recent weeks, with thousands of trucks delivering supplies. There has also been partial approval for commercial truck access.
“The Israeli declared policy, two and a half months after the ceasefire collapsed, was that there was nothing in it,” Polizer remarked, indicating that the aim was to apply pressure on Hamas.
He argues that the emphasis should be on saving lives, rather than engaging in what he calls “critic games.” Polizer calls for collaboration among the United Nations, the Israeli Defense Forces, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and others to forge effective solutions. “As a humanitarian organization, the concept of ‘Do No Harm’ is truly our Bible,” he stated.
After the conflict escalated, Islide received requests from global humanitarian organizations, previously involved in Afghanistan and Ukraine, seeking assistance in delivering aid to Gaza.
These groups faced challenges with tariffs and permissions from the Israeli military for supplies to reach Palestinians in Gaza, which Islide helped to navigate.
Despite political and cultural divides, Polizer noted that the Jewish community in the U.S. is actively contributing to efforts addressing Gaza’s hunger issues. He concluded, “You can support Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, but that doesn’t mean you’re anti-Israel.”
