Israeli airstrike destroys MAP partner warehouse in Gaza, burying food aid for malnourished children and pregnant women under rubble

The strike happened last night in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. The force of the explosion caused large sections of the building to collapse, including the roof and walls, completely burying supplies beneath the rubble. The warehouse belongs to Ard El Insan (AEI), a local humanitarian organisation which works in partnership with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) to provide nutritional support to women and children.

The warehouse contained nutritional supplements and supplies intended for malnourished children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers who are supported by around 60 medical points run by AEI. The medical points support up to 100 women and children each day, with the support of MAP. AEI’s team confirmed that the explosion damaged the entire stock, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.

Sahar Salem, AEI’s Project Coordinator, said: “Losing these quantities in their entirety is a major blow to our work and will undoubtedly affect our ability to reach the children and women who need these services, particularly given the conditions they continue to face in the aftermath of starvation”.

“Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, our work has never been easy. Two of our colleagues were killed and another was injured by Israeli military strikes. Every attack and interruption happens at a time when people are in desperate need of the services we provide.

"Even with the ceasefire, conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging, and children and women still urgently need continued support."

Rowida Al-Sabbah, MAP’s Nutrition Programme Lead, said: “When we talk about a warehouse being destroyed, we are not simply talking about a building or quantities of supplies being lost. We are talking about a service being disrupted — about nutritional supplements that were supposed to reach a child, a pregnant woman or a breastfeeding mother who relies on that support. This is happening at a time when rates of malnutrition remain high, including among children aged five to 10, a group for whom we have seen increasing needs in recent months.

“Unfortunately, in Gaza, even the simplest things we need to provide nutrition services are now vulnerable to being lost or disrupted.

"Despite all these challenges, we remain determined to do everything we can to continue supporting children and mothers in these areas and to ensure that they do not lose access to a service they urgently need, particularly those who are most at risk. Humanitarian workers, humanitarian facilities and the supplies that people depend on must be protected.”

AEI’s team is currently assessing how supplies can be used from other warehouses to ensure services can continue to serve those in need.

The loss of these supplies comes at a time when nutritional needs in Gaza remain severe. A new UNICEF report this week has shown there are concerning rates of maternal and chronic malnutrition in Gaza and that humanitarian aid is vital to prevent further deterioration of people’s conditions. More than 12% of children in Gaza have been assessed to be suffering from stunting and more than half of pregnant women suffer from severe anaemia driven by acute food insecurity and lack of basic nutrition.

Despite the so-called “ceasefire” agreement, Israeli military attacks in Gaza and forced displacement orders continue to intensify, with more than 1,296 Palestinians killed since October 2025, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. In June 2026, the Independent UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli forces and authorities have continued to commit genocide – particularly through the targeting of Palestinian children.

MAP calls for urgent action to ensure the ceasefire is upheld and becomes permanent, and for civilians to be protected in line with international humanitarian law. Governments, including the UK, must maintain meaningful pressure on Israel to bring a permanent end to Israel’s genocide, including through halting arms transfers and ensuring accountability for violations of international law.

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MAP spokespeople are available for interview on request. Please contact the press office to arrange at: [email protected] or +44 (0) 203 869 1310

A link to AEI’s full press release is available here.

Medical Aid for Palestinians works for a future where every Palestinian has access to a comprehensive, effective and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity. We have worked for more than 40 years in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.