Aid reaches Gaza by road through a small number of crossings. This covers the routes and partners involved, what AusRelief delivers, what is currently restricted and how delivery is checked for supporters in Australia.

If you plan to donate to Palestine from Australia, you should know how aid reaches Gaza and how delivery is checked. This article covers the routes, the partners, what AusRelief delivers and what is currently restricted.

Key takeaways

·       Aid reaches Gaza by road through crossings controlled by Israeli authorities. In September 2026, Kerem Shalom was the only operating cargo crossing.

·       Families and local groups have organised distributions, shared kitchens and informal schooling themselves. Supply and access limit this work more than organisation does.

·       AusRelief's Palestine programme delivers through its own ground teams and local partners already operating on the ground.

·       Some items, including shelter materials, fuel, spare parts and certain medical equipment, face persistent entry restrictions.

·       AusRelief is a registered charity and a Deductible Gift Recipient, so eligible donations are tax deductible in Australia.

·       We update this page as conditions change, rather than leaving an older version in place.

How does aid actually get into Gaza?

Aid enters Gaza by road, and the route depends on which crossings are open. The UN humanitarian office, OCHA, reported in September 2026 that Kerem Shalom has been the only operational cargo crossing since Zikim closed on 24 May. So all cargo, whether it arrives from Egypt, through the port of Ashdod or by other routes, passes through that single point.

After that, humanitarian partners collect supplies from the crossing. OCHA's June report describes partners then distributing through kitchens, cash assistance and direct provision to displacement sites. It also notes that only some of the supplies planned for collection could be picked up, because of congestion and slow screening at the checkpoint.

What are families already doing for themselves?

Families in Gaza and the West Bank have organised much of the daily response. Neighbours run shared kitchens, local groups arrange distributions, and parents and teachers keep informal schooling going. And supply and access are what limit all of it.

The scale of local effort shows in the UN's figures. OCHA's September report counts 102 community kitchens producing around 732,000 meals a day across 1,104 locations, along with 22 subsidised bakeries. That work depends on flour, fuel and equipment arriving, which is why the routes matter so much.

Which Australian charity delivers aid inside Gaza?

AusRelief does, through its own ground teams and local partners. Our Palestine Emergency Appeal supports medical necessities for hospitals, meals, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and tents, and cash assistance for displaced families. The programme also covers water and medical supplies, delivered through partners already working in communities.

Every response under our emergency appeals follows the same method. We assess humanitarian needs, then respond through our own teams or vetted partners with local expertise and community access, and each response is planned and delivered with them.

What is being delivered, and what limits it?

Each type of support meets a different need, and each runs into a different constraint.

Type of support	What it covers	Current constraint reported by the UN
Food	Meals and food support through kitchens and distributions	One cargo crossing and slow collection from it
Medical supplies	Medical necessities delivered to hospitals	Entry limits on equipment classed as "dual-use", such as ultrasound machines, incubators and ventilators
Shelter	Emergency shelter and tents for displaced families	Persistent restrictions on shelter materials
Water and hygiene	Hygiene kits and water support	Limits on generators, spare parts and fuel affect sanitation services
Cash assistance	Funds for displaced families to buy what they need	Commercial supply remains below earlier levels

What is currently restricted?

Heavy machinery, fuel, engine oil, spare parts, solar equipment and shelter materials all face persistent restrictions, according to OCHA's September report. The same report found that about a third of commercial truckloads carried non-essential items, which reduces room for essentials. And in some cases, shelter materials have been refused entry more than once, with security given as the reason.

AusRelief has reported on aid stranded at the borders, with medical supplies and food held at crossings. Some items can't be sent right now, and others arrive more slowly than planned, so the programme leans on what can move while partners keep requesting access for the rest. The latest updates are published by OCHA for the occupied Palestinian territory.

How is delivery verified?

Verification happens at two levels. At the system level, the UN tracks aid entering Gaza through its UN 2720 Mechanism, which publishes an online dashboard of what has been offloaded. At the charity level, AusRelief applies a rigorous approach to programme development and monitoring, and works through our own teams or vetted partners.

Our post on how food distributions are planned explains the general approach: local teams identify recipient households against criteria agreed beforehand, and results are reported afterwards. Even so, no single organisation can see every pallet from crossing to kitchen. AusRelief also publishes an annual report.

Which charity can I trust to donate to Palestine?

Start with the Australian charity register. The ACNC charity register lets you look up any charity by name or ABN and check its registration, governance and reports. AusRelief Limited is registered under ABN 38 600 640 408 and is a Public Benevolent Institution with Deductible Gift Recipient endorsement, running projects in Australia and overseas. After that, look for a clear description of what the programme delivers and what is restricted.

How can you take part from Australia?

Anyone can get involved, no matter the amount.

·       Give once through quick donate.

·       Give regularly through monthly giving, which suits programmes that need steady supply.

·       Raise funds with friends, family or colleagues by starting your own fundraiser or backing one already running through AusRelief fundraising.

·       Volunteer with the team in Australia.

·       Support Gazan families settling here through Gaza to Australia, which helps with rent, medical needs, groceries and furnishings.

Shared effort, steady supply

Aid reaches families when many parts work together: crossings, partners, local kitchens, and supporters in Australia who give steadily. Families set the priorities, and AusRelief works to them. Continued support helps keep supplies moving and keeps partners able to respond when access changes. Supporters also reach communities beyond Gaza through our wider projects and the Lebanon Emergency Appeal.

Frequently asked questions

How does aid actually get into Gaza?

Aid enters Gaza by road through crossings controlled by Israeli authorities. In September 2026, Kerem Shalom was the only operating cargo crossing, according to OCHA. Humanitarian partners collect supplies there and distribute them through kitchens, cash assistance and direct provision to displacement sites. The UN tracks verified aid through its UN 2720 Mechanism.

Which Australian charity delivers aid inside Gaza and how does it physically get there?

AusRelief delivers aid through its own ground teams and local partners already operating in Gaza. Supplies move through the same crossings as all other aid, then reach families via partners. Our Palestine Emergency Appeal supports medical necessities for hospitals, meals, hygiene kits, shelter and cash assistance for displaced families.

Can I donate to Palestine from Australia with a tax deductible receipt?

Yes. AusRelief Limited (ABN 38 600 640 408) is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient, so eligible donations to the Palestine Emergency Appeal are tax deductible in Australia. Check your own tax position with a registered tax adviser, and keep your receipt for your return.

Which charity can I trust to donate to Palestine?

Check the charity on the ACNC register using its name or ABN, and confirm it holds Deductible Gift Recipient endorsement. Then look for clear information on what it delivers, who delivers it and what is restricted. AusRelief is a registered charity and Public Benevolent Institution with ABN 38 600 640 408.

What does the Palestine Emergency Appeal fund?

The appeal supports medical necessities for hospitals, meals, hygiene kits, emergency shelter and tents, and cash assistance for displaced families, delivered with local partners. You can direct your gift to the Palestine appeal, or choose "Where it's needed most" so AusRelief can allocate it where need is greatest.

What isn't currently allowed into Gaza?

According to OCHA's September 2026 report, heavy machinery, fuel, engine oil, spare parts, solar equipment and shelter materials face persistent restrictions. Some medical equipment classed as dual-use, such as ultrasound machines and ventilators, has also faced limits. Conditions change, so we update this page as they do.

Want to support families in Gaza through partners already on the ground?

Visit the Palestine Emergency Appeal to give, or find out how the work reaches communities.