Humanitarian operations in Gaza were further disrupted today as aid distribution centres shut down temporarily following Israeli warnings that roads leading to the sites are now considered “combat zones.”

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by the US and Israel, suspended its activities for the day — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations.

James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF currently based in Gaza, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was only informed of GHF’s decision early this morning. He expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation and the limited reach of aid efforts.

“People are walking 15 to 20 kilometres just to find food and water,” Elder said, recounting a heartbreaking encounter. “There are teenage boys in tears at the car window showing me their ribs.”

Elder criticised GHF’s operations, calling the group a “pretence of aid,” and pointed to a much larger issue — the overall inefficiency of aid distribution in the territory.

“They claim they’re helping people, but it’s far from enough,” he said. “We’ve gone from 400 distribution sites during the ceasefire to just a handful now.”

He also highlighted how larger, established humanitarian organisations are being blocked from delivering aid in meaningful quantities.

“Instead of 500 to 600 aid trucks entering Gaza daily, we’re seeing 500 to 600 individual boxes being handed out. That’s a fraction of what’s needed,” he said.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with widespread food insecurity, limited access to clean water, and growing concerns over the wellbeing of civilians caught in the conflict.