Overview
- Israel’s COGAT said all crossings into Gaza are shut until further notice and humanitarian staff rotations are postponed, linking the move to joint Israeli–U.S. operations against Iran.
- Rafah, reopened on a limited basis in early February for tightly screened pedestrian movement and medical evacuations, is closed again, halting patient transfers.
- UN and local officials say Gaza’s limited fuel reserves may last only a few days, threatening hospital operations as well as water and sanitation services, with staple foods expected to tighten.
- Residents reported panic buying and price spikes for flour, sugar and cooking oil as memories of last year’s famine drive stockpiling across the enclave.
- Israeli authorities assert existing food stocks inside Gaza are sufficient for an extended period, a claim disputed by UN agencies and rights groups that report persistent access impediments.