Aid trucks in Gaza down to a fraction of pre-war fleet
Only a fraction of Gaza’s pre-war fleet of 1,200 aid and transport vehicles remains operational, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said.
Source: Al Jazeera · August 19, 2026 at 1:31 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 19 AUGUST 2026 —
Only a fraction of Gaza’s pre-war fleet of 1,200 aid and transport vehicles remains operational, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said.
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At least 150 trucks have been destroyed or damaged. The 100 or so still running are kept mobile with parts scavenged from wrecks, drivers and mechanics told Reuters. “With these hands, I save one truck and let it go so that another can take its place,” one driver said.
Tyres, oil and engines are scarce. Mechanics said shortages make it hard to keep the remaining vehicles on the road. From the Rafah crossing, Egyptian trucks enter Gaza and head toward distribution centres via Salah al-Din Street or the Philadelphi Corridor.
Every stop raises the risk of breakdown. A vehicle that fails leaves its cargo inaccessible. The system’s fragility grows as strain rises on fewer trucks.
Drivers face death as well as mechanical failure. Naser Isleem showed photos of his son Ahmed, a Palestinian aid driver killed by Israeli forces while delivering aid. His journey is one of many that ended in death.
The choke point is not the crossing but the journey from border to warehouse. The number of trucks that reach distribution centres—not those that enter Gaza—is the real constraint on aid delivery. Families needing food, medicine or fuel may wait indefinitely if the trucks never arrive.