‘Man-made starvation’: the obstacles to Gaza aid deliveries – visual guide

Israel’s siege of Gaza has created what aid officials are referring to as “man-made starvation”, with the territory facing the threat of mass deaths from famine in the coming weeks.

As part of its devastating war strategy against Hamas, Israel has restricted shipments of food and medicine to just a fraction of what Palestinian civilians need to survive.

Israeli authorities turn back some aid deliveries at the border because of items they claim to be of dual use, meaning they can be used for civilian but also military purposes, such as for making explosives.

Médecins Sans Frontières said it had “consistently been denied the import of power generators, water purifiers, solar panels and other medical equipment”.

Philippe Lazzarini, of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has said one aid truck was turned back “because it had scissors used in children’s medical kits”.

A proposal exists for a new port to be built in southern Gaza with a jetty that could accommodate smaller vessels that could dock in a depth of 8-10 metres.