Amman, August 4 (Petra) – The Jordanian government has condemned the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid convoys en route to the Gaza Strip, citing repeated attacks and roadblocks by Israeli settlers as well as procedural delays imposed by Israeli authorities.
Minister of Government Communications and official spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani stated on Monday that Jordan’s land convoys carrying essential humanitarian assistance to Gaza have been subjected to attacks by settlers, including a recent incident in which trucks were forcibly stopped and turned back.
“This is not the first time such violations have occurred,” Al-Momani told the Jordan News Agency (Petra), noting that similar incidents have happened repeatedly without any meaningful response from the Israeli authorities. He called for immediate action to ensure the safe passage of aid convoys and prevent further assaults that could lead to physical harm in addition to material damage.
Al-Momani warned that these actions, which violate international agreements and humanitarian norms, demand a serious response from Israel. He emphasized that the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), which has been a key lifeline for Gaza, resumed its land deliveries on July 6 after sustained diplomatic pressure from Jordan to secure permission for overland access.
Despite this breakthrough, Al-Momani said, severe restrictions remain in place. These include limitations on the number of trucks allowed to cross daily, convoluted approval processes starting with electronic permit applications, chaotic inspections at the border, and newly imposed customs fees. He also pointed to arbitrary rejections based on claimed end-of-shift hours, which have resulted in the return of dozens of aid trucks.
Such delays, he explained, have created logistical bottlenecks, with long queues of trucks piling up on both the Jordanian and Gaza border crossings. This not only slows the distribution of critical aid but also reduces the overall volume of assistance reaching civilians in need.
Jordan, Al-Momani stressed, is employing every possible channel land convoys and air drops alike to deliver aid to Gaza’s besieged population. “Air drops are not sufficient, nor are they a substitute for sustained ground delivery,” he said. “They must be part of a synchronized, multi-channel humanitarian effort.”
He noted that Jordan has the capacity to dispatch up to 150 aid trucks daily via the designated humanitarian corridor, but current obstacles drastically curtail this potential. Al-Momani also raised concerns about instances of looting and the lack of proper security for convoys inside Gaza, further undermining organized distribution efforts.
Since the start of the war nearly 22 months ago, Gaza has faced an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe. A total blockade imposed by Israeli forces in early March led to acute shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. A limited easing of the blockade in late May failed to alleviate the crisis.
In response to mounting international pressure, Israeli authorities announced a temporary daily “tactical pause” in military operations from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jordan, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and other partner nations, continues to participate in organizing and executing air drops of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
//Petra// AA
04/08/2025 21:14:24
