What is happening in Gaza?
Up to 1.9 million people are currently displaced across Gaza. With famine looming, many continue to be displaced repeatedly – often with no adequate shelters left to move to.
Since October 2023, over 90% of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and much of the region’s farmland has been bombed. As a result, communities are now almost entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance. The lives and human rights of more than two million Palestinian people who live in Gaza, and the hostages, must be protected.
For nearly three months, Israel blocked all humanitarian aid. In May, following international pressure, it designated the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as the sole authorized aid provider within the territory. Hundreds of civilians have reportedly been shot dead by Israeli soldiers while waiting for food assistance, and thousands more have been injured.
This dark and inhumane chapter is unfolding in plain sight, in front of the entire world, and it must be brought to an end. Do not stop talking about Gaza.
Is the ceasefire holding in Gaza?
The ceasefire in Gaza has collapsed after being broken by Israel. On the 18th March, 2025, Israeli airstrikes resumed on Gaza. Since then, Israel has intensified its military attacks, killing thousands.
The fragile ceasefire had brought hope to vulnerable families in desperate need of safe shelter, food, water and medical care. Now, people are once again left searching for safety.
Most of the aid that we had in Gaza before the blockade has now been distributed by our partners PARC, MAP, and SDF. Temporary and portable shelter items like tents, tarpaulins, and rope allow people to create temporary homes.
We have more aid in Jordan ready to go, and enough tents to shelter thousands of people, but we can’t move it because of the ongoing restrictions. A permanent ceasefire and end to the fighting is the only way to ease the immense suffering on Palestinians in Gaza and protect their human rights.
How much aid is getting into Gaza?
After blocking aid for 11 weeks, on Monday (19 May), due to external pressure, Israel began to allow a trickle of aid to cross the border. The Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is the only approved aid distributor in Gaza. GHF gives out food and supplies, but only through four checkpoints in the south. These places are controlled by soldiers and are hard for many people, especially those living in the north, to reach. Many aid groups say this system dangerous, politically motivated and inadequate.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while trying to access this limited aid, and thousands have been injured. There have been reports of civilians being shot at while waiting for food. This has contributed to an intense climate of fear around accessing humanitarian support. Deliberately preventing the access of lifesaving aid is being used as a weapon. People are dying slowly – from disease, the lack of food, clean water, and medical supplies.
ShelterBox has been working with local partners, who were already present in Gaza, and are closely monitoring the situation.
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How ShelterBox is supporting people in Gaza?
Our aid continues to be blocked from entering Gaza due to Israeli aid restrictions. We continue to call for a sustained ceasefire and full aid access into Gaza. We must be able to distribute our aid supplies and support the thousands of people living without shelter.
Prior to aid blockages, we were providing tents and other emergency items to support people in Gaza. Together with MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) and SDF (the Social Development Forum), we distributed tents, tarpaulins, rope, tape and plastic sheeting to make shelters watertight. We also supported people with kitchen sets, bedding and hygiene kits.
Where is Gaza?
The Gaza Strip is located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.
Gaza is one of the most densely populated pieces of land on Earth. 2.3 million people live on the narrow strip of land, measuring 141sq miles (41km long / 10km wide). Since 7 October 2023, 80% of homes here have been damaged or destroyed.
With civilians unable to leave, nowhere in Gaza is safe. Families are forced to move again and again in search of safety, but land, sea, and air bombardments are making that near impossible. There are large areas cut off and people are continuously on the move.
