The transportation and shipping system in the Gaza Strip has been completely paralyzed by Israel’s destruction of the transport and storage infrastructure, targeting of drivers, and prevention of spare parts from entering the territory.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, based in Geneva, stated that Israel is implementing “a comprehensive policy to dismantle the supply chain from the moment goods and aid enter through the crossings until they reach the population.”
The Monitor quoted Nahed Shuhayber, head of the Private Transport Association in the Gaza Strip, as saying that before the Israeli war, the Strip had a fleet of approximately 1,200 trucks, covering the population’s needs for food, medicine, fuel, animal feed, building materials, and other basic commodities.
Shuhayber explained that only about 400 trucks survived the Israeli bombing and destruction, and of these, about 100 were rendered inoperable due to the ban on spare parts, tires, oil, and batteries. Currently, only about 300 trucks are operational, representing a mere 25% of the previous fleet size.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that Israel’s prevention of the entry of necessary maintenance materials has put the remaining fleet at risk of grounding, forcing workers to dismantle disabled trucks and use their parts to keep others operational. The Monitor added that the cost of changing the oil in a single truck has skyrocketed from approximately 450 shekels (about $150) before the war to around 100,000 shekels (about $33,000) currently, amidst a severe shortage of operating materials. Meanwhile, the price of a kilogram of oil, when available, has reached approximately $1,100.
The Monitor pointed out that preventing the entry of materials needed to operate the trucks is disrupting the primary means of transporting food, medicine, and fuel to the residents of the Gaza Strip, after Israel destroyed most of its infrastructure and local production facilities, leaving the population almost entirely dependent on aid and supplies from abroad.
According to field data from the Monitor, Israeli attacks have destroyed or disabled more than 150 trucks while they were carrying out their duties, particularly on the roads leading to and around the Kerem Abu Salem crossing.
He added that the attacks have killed more than 20 drivers, including four since the ceasefire in October 2015, while Israeli forces have arrested 15 others, some of whom have been detained for nearly two years. The Observatory also noted that the Israeli army has destroyed the headquarters and warehouses of approximately 150 transport companies, in addition to the lack of secure storage facilities and refrigerated warehouses, which has dismantled the logistical infrastructure necessary for preserving and distributing supplies.
He emphasized that the slow pace of procedures is leading to the spoilage of quantities of frozen food, medicine, and essential goods before they reach those in need.
