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The UK government has strongly criticised the prolonged delays in allowing humanitarian supplies into Gaza, revealing that a shipment of more than 1,100 UK-funded tents took over a year to reach the territory. Officials say the incident reflects wider obstacles facing aid deliveries, even during the current ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper voiced growing frustration that British relief items have been repeatedly held up at border crossings. She warned that despite a pause in fighting, large quantities of UK aid have still been unable to reach families who are in desperate need of assistance.
Cooper emphasised that conditions in Gaza remain “dire,” noting that the United Nations has reported 1.5 million Palestinians urgently require proper shelter as heavy rainfall intensifies and temperatures fall sharply with the arrival of winter. The BBC has approached the Israeli authorities for a response to the delays.
The tent shipment — each one designed to house a family of five — finally entered Gaza on Monday, with additional consignments expected later in the week. According to government sources, these shelters could help protect up to 12,000 people during the colder months.
The foreign secretary said the lengthy wait for aid to enter Gaza was unacceptable, stressing that all border crossings must be opened to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access. She said: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains appalling, made worse by increasingly harsh weather and the severe damage to infrastructure after more than two years of conflict. Parents are being forced to protect their children under shattered roofs or out in the open.
“These tents will be a lifeline for thousands who have no shelter, offering some protection from freezing winds and the relentless rain that is turning debris and rubble into thick mud.”
Figures from the United Nations indicate that approximately 1.9 million people—almost 90% of Gaza’s population—have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas war started in October 2023.
Cooper welcomed the eventual delivery of the tents but stressed that the humanitarian situation requires far more extensive reconstruction. She said she was dismayed that earlier this year “yet another aid consignment” had remained stuck at the border for months, adding: “This cannot continue. The arrival of these tents demonstrates the enormous difference our aid can make when it finally gets in.”
She reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to pushing for full humanitarian access, reopening of all crossings, implementation of the peace plan, and a road towards a lasting resolution.
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s Special Representative to the State of Palestine, said the entry of the tents marks the result of “months of continuous international efforts to secure greater access for aid.” He said families remain in extremely harsh conditions as cold weather and persistent rain expose children to severe risks.
“Even with the ceasefire, daily life for Gaza’s children remains extraordinarily difficult,” he said. “These UK-funded tents will offer essential shelter for families during the harsh winter, but far more assistance is urgently required.”
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