section_path: Blockade on humanitarian supplies
section_name: Blockade on humanitarian supplies
paragraph_text: Blockade on humanitarian supplies
  
  Before, during and after the strikes, Israel implemented a total blockade on all humanitarian supplies, including food, water, medications and medical supplies, cooking materials, and other essential goods. Several requests made by the United Nations Security Council to collect and distribute aid left at the Karem Shalom border crossing were "systematically denied". In addition, Israel cut off power to the desalination plant in southern Gaza, restricting the availability of clean water for about 600,000 people. The blockade on commercial goods led to surging prices of staple foods, with prices for vegetables tripling in North Gaza and at least six World Food Programme -subsidized bakeries being forced to close as a result of lacking cooking supplies and gas.
  
  On 19 March, OCHA reported that Israel had blocked medical equipment from entering into Gaza, including 20 ventilators for neonatal intensive care units and nine portable newborn incubators.
  
  In addition, Israel initiated movement restrictions against Palestinians at almost 1,000 roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank. The restrictions reportedly forced civilians to make hazardous detours or wait for several hours in queue, significantly impacting the operations of businesses in the West Bank.