EditAs famine grips Gaza, the Cyprus corridor emerges as a lifeline for aid delivery
Cypriot officials say there is “no evidence of artificial holdup" by Israel, but logistical hurdles persist
During a recent United Nations Security Council session addressing the Middle East and the Palestinian question, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, underscored the critical role of the Cyprus maritime corridor in facilitating urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with famine now confirmed in parts of the region and the international community scrambling to respond. Amid this crisis, the Cyprus maritime corridor has emerged as a cornerstone of international efforts to deliver aid to Gaza.
Cyprus, the closest EU member state to Gaza (approximately 370 km away), leverages its strategic location and diplomatic relations with Israel and Arab neighbors to facilitate aid delivery.
The initiative, named after the mythological figure Amalthea, was proposed by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in October 2023 and gained traction following a joint announcement on 8 March by the EU, U.S., UAE, UK, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands. The port of Larnaca serves as a staging point for humanitarian aid, where supplies are inspected, loaded onto vessels, and shipped to Gaza’s coast. From there, aid is transferred to smaller boats or temporary jetties for distribution. This maritime route bypasses some of the logistical and political challenges associated with land-based aid routes, which have faced restrictions and delays due to the ongoing conflict.
The corridor relies on Israel’s approval for aid to enter Gaza via Ashdod or other crossings. Israel’s obstacles to the Cyprus maritime corridor include stringent security checks that delay aid deliveries and restricted access to Gaza’s land crossings, limiting the corridor’s efficiency.
Cypriot officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis, insist there is “no evidence of artificial holdup,” but the lack of clarity on the cargo’s status highlights persistent logistical hurdles.
Cyprus’ role extends beyond mere logistics. The country has positioned itself as a neutral and reliable partner in the region, fostering cooperation between international actors, including the EU, the United States, and regional powers like Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative, launched in early 2024, has already facilitated the delivery of thousands of tons of food, medical supplies, and other essentials to Gaza.
The corridor’s reactivation, as noted by Ambassador Balta, is particularly urgent given the scale of the crisis. The initiative not only accelerates the delivery of life-saving supplies but also symbolises international solidarity with the people of Gaza. Cyprus’ commitment to maintaining this channel underscores its growing role as a humanitarian hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, bridging Europe and the Middle East.
The Security Council session revealed a range of perspectives on the Gaza crisis. The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, speaking on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs head Tom Fletcher, informed the Security Council that hunger in Gaza has escalated into famine.
Ambassador Balta condemned the expansion of settlements and settler violence in the West Bank, which she said further undermines peace prospects. She also expressed strong opposition to any attempts at forced displacement of Palestinians and highlighted concerns about escalating settler violence against Christian communities. Calling for a “durable and comprehensive ceasefire,” she reiterated Greece’s position that Hamas should have no governmental or military role in Gaza’s future.
The Palestinian Permanent Observer, Riyad Mansour, delivered an emotionally charged speech, invoking the suffering of Gaza’s children and calling for peace, a ceasefire, and an end to the war. He urged Council members to visit Gaza to witness the situation firsthand and emphasized the necessity of a two-state solution for a peaceful and secure future.
Israel’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Danny Danon, drew attention to the plight of hostages held by Hamas, citing the testimony of Ilana Gritzewsky, a former hostage. Gritzewsky recounted the horrors she endured during 55 days of captivity, including starvation and humiliation. Danon argued that Hamas’ actions, including the mistreatment of hostages and misuse of international aid, necessitate its defeat and the release of all hostages.
The U.S. Permanent Representative, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, thanked Gritzewsky for her testimony and stressed that peace begins with the release of hostages and ensuring Hamas no longer controls Gaza. She rejected claims of a deliberate starvation policy, noting that Israel has facilitated over two million tons of aid to Gaza since the conflict’s onset.
The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Ramiz Alakbarov, painted a grim picture of Gaza and the West Bank, describing an unprecedented crisis driven by mass civilian casualties, displacement, and famine. He noted that 86% of Gaza is under Israeli military zones, with new operations threatening catastrophic consequences for hundreds of thousands of residents. In the West Bank, settlement expansion and economic pressures on the Palestinian Authority further jeopardize the prospects for a Palestinian state.
The international community’s response, as highlighted by Ambassador Balta, includes diplomatic efforts to revive the two-state solution. A recent conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia in New York demonstrated global commitment to peace and stability. However, the path forward requires political courage from all parties to adhere to relevant Security Council resolutions and pursue a sustainable resolution.
Gaza City officially in famine, with hunger spreading, says global hunger monitor
On August 22, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee confirmed famine conditions in Gaza’s administrative region, with projections indicating its spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. Over 500,000 people face immediate starvation risks, a number expected to surpass 640,000. Approximately one million individuals are classified at IPC 4 (Emergency) and nearly 400,000 at IPC 3 (Crisis). Alarmingly, 132,000 children under five are projected to suffer acute malnutrition by mid-2026, with 43,000 at immediate risk of death. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, cases of severe risk are expected to rise from 17,000 to 55,000.
Msuya emphasized that this famine is not a natural disaster but a “man-made catastrophe” resulting from 22 months of conflict, restrictions on humanitarian aid, destruction of agricultural production, and the collapse of health and water infrastructure. Despite recent efforts such as the delivery of 12,000 tons of flour, the operation of 80 kitchens providing 400,000 meals daily, and food distribution to 30,000 children, these measures fall short of reversing the famine’s trajectory.
NGOs cry foul as Israel’s aid restrictions deepen Gaza’s starvation crisis
Caption: People protest nearby United Nations headquarters, calling for food to be let into Gaza since Palestinians are currently experiencing a famine, in New York, New York, USA, 25 July 2025.
Updated: August 28, 2025 - 14:20
