Recent weeks have seen a a series of thefts with increasing brutality by criminal gangs, which humanitarian workers say are now the main obstacle to the distribution of supplies.
On November 16, a convoy of 109 trucks carrying food was attacked by masked men who held the drivers at gunpoint before stealing 97 trucks.
Later, a notorious Gaza crime family blocked the main road leading from Kerem Shalom for two days, erecting iron barriers and reportedly shooting at trucks trying to reach an aid distribution point.
Aid workers and local residents also claim that gunmen are operating within sight of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the no-go zone on the Israel-Gaza border.
Announcing the supply suspension, Mr Lazzarini said the road from the crossing “has not been safe for months”, citing the theft of five more trucks on Saturday, as well as an incident last month.
The announcement also follows the deaths of three people who worked for food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) and two others in Israeli strike on Saturday.
Israel said the target of the strike was a WCK employee involved in the October 7 attacks.
“Delivering humanitarian aid should never be dangerous or an ordeal,” Mr Lazzarini said.
He said there had been a “violation of law and order” and that the responsibility to protect aid workers rested with Israel.
“They must ensure the safe flow of aid to Gaza and refrain from attacking humanitarian workers,” he said.
Israel has opened a number of other crossing points into central and northern Gaza in recent months following international pressure to increase the flow of aid, but Kerem Shalom remains the route through which most aid enters Gaza.
