Israeli authorities closing crossings into Gaza puts essential supplies for children under threat once again

GAZA, Monday 8 June 2026 – Israeli authorities announced earlier today that they are closing border crossings into the Gaza Strip, including Kerem Shalom and Rafah, until further notice.  

This politicisation of aid once again puts food, clean water and emergency life-saving supplies including medical and shelter items needed to keep one million children and their families alive out of reach, Save the Children said.  

Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, said:  

“Aid is not a political tool and should not be weaponised in this way. The survival and needs of children in Gaza should not have to answer to airstrikes elsewhere.  

“For nearly three years, Gaza has been pummelled so hard by Israeli airstrikes that nothing can grow there and people have been reliant on the already small amount of aid crossing the border – aid that was never enough and is now totally out of reach.  

“Children in Gaza depend on crossings for food, clean water, medicine, fuel, shelter materials and the supplies needed to keep hospitals, water systems and other essential services running. All of this is now under threat.

“Children in Gaza have already been starved by design. They should not now be denied water, medicine, shelter and the other essentials needed to survive. The Israeli authorities must re-open these crossings immediately, lift the siege and facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid at scale.”

“Meanwhile, we are pleading with the international community to put pressure on the Government of Israel. Palestinian children and their families in Gaza have had their rights eroded again and again – rights that are protected under international law. The international community may have taken its eyes off Gaza, but history will have its eyes on you.”

ENDS

Save the Children has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory since 1953, with a permanent presence since 1973. We work with partners to help provide quality education, protection for children, early childhood development support, and employment opportunities for young people.    

In 2025, Save the Children provided lifesaving support to over 1.8 million people across Gaza, including over 950,000 children. This includes providing support to nearly 800,000 people, including over 380,000 children 9 who have received a wide range of services.  

As of 5 May, we’re directly and through partners running two health clinics in Gaza, 15 nutrition points, water and sanitation services (8 hygiene promotion sites, 59 water trucking sites, 49 sanitation facilities, and 39 solid waste management points), child protection programmes including mental health support and case management at 21 sites, education in 63 temporary learning spaces, and cash transfer programmes to support families whose livelihoods have been decimated.  

For further enquiries please contact:

Emily Wight, Global Media Manager: Emily.Wight@savethechildren.org;

Ahmad Abuhamad, Global Media Manager for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe: Ahmad.Abuhamad@savethechildren.org;

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409