Israel's unprecedented heavy bombing—dropping more bombs in eight months than during World War II or the eight-year-long Iraq War—has destroyed essential infrastructure for food preparation and distribution, including bakeries, grain mills, and civic centers.

The IDF frequently accuses Hamas of storing weapons within civilian infrastructure. However, this justification is problematic for two key reasons:

1. These claims often appear exaggerated—for instance, in the case of Al-Shifa Hospital.
2. Even if the allegations were entirely accurate, it remains ethically questionable to starve millions of civilians who had no involvement in the October 7 assault. On this note, the widespread targeting of civilian infrastructure is likely illegal under international law, as it (i) violates the principle of proportionality in warfare, and (ii) constitutes collective punishment, which is explicitly prohibited.

The IDF has indicated that they prevent the entry of certain items due to their potential dual-use. While the examples they provide may not include food items, this confirms the existence of a policy that is likely being interpreted arbitrarily.

On this note, according to more than two dozen humanitarian and government officials interviewed by CNN, Israel has imposed arbitrary and contradictory criteria for aid entry. The prohibited items include anesthetics and anesthesia machines, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, and water filtration systems. Other items stuck in bureaucratic limbo include dates, sleeping bags, cancer medications, water purification tablets, and maternity kits.