Full Breakdown
Israeli Restrictions Keep Hundreds of Wheelchairs for Gaza’s Injured Children in Jordanian Storage
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Blocked Wheelchair Deliveries
More than 900 wheelchairs donated by two Australian charities have remained in warehouses in Jordan for over a year and a half because Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has not approved their inclusion in an aid convoy to Gaza. The wheelchairs, designed for rough-terrain navigation and adjustable growth, are intended for children who have suffered severe, life-changing injuries—including amputations—during the ongoing conflict.
Background & Context
The war in Gaza has produced the world’s largest concentration of child amputees, with UNICEF reporting that over 11,000 children now live with permanent disabilities that require long-term care and rehabilitation. Australian charities — Kids on Wheels Alliance (New South Wales) and Wheelchairs for Kids (Western Australia) — sent two shipments in early 2025 and a third later that year, hoping to alleviate mobility challenges for these children.
Timeline
- Early 2025 – First shipment of wheelchairs arrives in Jordan.
- Later 2025 – Second shipment arrives; a third shipment follows.
- Early 2025 – Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) submits a request to COGAT to include the wheelchairs in a convoy.
- Subsequent 19 months – The request remains “pending,” preventing any new convoy request.
- October 2025 – Ceasefire begins; COGAT later states it has allowed entry of “thousands of wheelchairs” and roughly 22,000 tons of medical equipment and medicines.
- September 21 2026 – The issue is highlighted in a report by Stephen Prager, reposted from Common Dreams.
Data & Statistics
- >11,000 children in Gaza with severe, life-changing injuries (UNICEF).
- >900 wheelchairs awaiting delivery.
- ?22,000 tons of medical equipment and medicines allowed entry since the October 2025 ceasefire (COGAT).
- ?90 % of Gaza’s population remains displaced, heightening demand for shelter and medical supplies.
Official Statements & Responses
- Israeli government source (as reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)): States that Israel has not blocked the wheelchair deliveries, though COGAT did not answer specific questions about the shipment’s status.
Criticism & Opposition
- Dr. Abdullah Al-Balawi, physician with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, observes that the wheelchairs “do not pose any threat” and urges that humanitarian aid must continue.
- Human Rights Watch: Argues that Israel’s “dual-use” restrictions are “unnecessarily broad and arbitrary,” leading to inconsistent acceptance of items such as wheelchair batteries, X-ray equipment, and prosthetic-material components.
- Amnesty International: Describes the pattern of blocking lifesaving medical and humanitarian assistance—including food, water, fuel, and shelter materials—as amounting to genocide.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The humanitarian aid must not stop,” — Dr. Abdullah Al-Balawi, a physician with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association
Why It Matters
The prolonged detention of essential mobility aids exacerbates the physical and psychological burden on thousands of disabled children already coping with the aftermath of war. The broader pattern of dual-use restrictions, highlighted by human-rights organizations, raises questions about the balance between security concerns and humanitarian obligations under international law.
What’s Next
Human-rights groups have called on Israel to remove the dual-use label from medical-related supplies, eyeglasses, walkers, canes, and hearing aids. No specific timeline for policy change has been announced.