Water purifiers, medical supplies and tent poles are among items Israel has blocked from entering Gaza on aid trucks, according to an Egyptian Red Crescent document seen by Reuters and sources in Gaza, but Israel has denied blocking any such items.

Under a policy that long pre-dates the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing fighting in Gaza, Israel inspects trucks bound for the Palestinian enclave to stop any items it considers to have potential “dual use” — civilian or military.

But the issue of which items do or don’t get through has become more urgent and contested as the military offensive has unfolded. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population and caused acute shortages of food, water, medicines and other basic necessities.

The Egyptian Red Crescent document, which dates back to mid-December, says 1,200 water purifiers, 100 oxygen cylinders, one oxygen generator, 1,000 solar-powered items, 24 power generators and 418 medical supplies were blocked since the fighting started.

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