By Thursday, the United Nations reported that nearly 90 truckloads of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza, marking the first significant influx of food supplies permitted by Israel after a two-month blockade that has worsened the region’s humanitarian conditions.
Both the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Israeli military confirmed that the aid shipments reached warehouses and distribution points within Gaza after multiple days of delays. However, aid organizations stressed that this delivery represents only a small portion of the urgent needs on the ground.
The World Food Program, a leading U.N. agency involved in Gaza, expressed on social media that while desperately needed aid is finally arriving, the volume and speed remain insufficient. They emphasized the necessity for more daily aid truck deliveries to address the escalating crisis.
The two-month Israeli prohibition on food and fuel imports has led to severe hunger and hardship in Gaza, which has suffered extensive devastation amid ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Israel has defended the blockade as a measure to compel Hamas to surrender and release hostages still held captive. Israeli officials have also accused Hamas of diverting aid supplies or profiting from them, allegations that international humanitarian groups have disputed.
The Israeli government had conditioned the resumption of aid on the United Nations agreeing to a new distribution mechanism under Israeli security supervision. This proposal was rejected by the U.N. and numerous aid organizations, who argued it would undermine their neutrality and operational independence.
Following mounting international pressure, Israel announced on Sunday that U.N. agencies could resume sending limited food aid to Gaza using the previous system. Nevertheless, ongoing disagreements between Israel and the U.N. caused additional delays before the aid finally entered.
According to the U.N. humanitarian office, Israel required the aid trucks to follow a highly risky route within Gaza. U.N. officials warned that without changes to the plan, the risk of looting was extremely high.
Requests for comment from the Israeli military liaison office coordinating with aid agencies, known as COGAT, were not answered.
Israeli authorities have indicated their intention to implement a new aid distribution framework that bypasses the United Nations in the near future.
In a televised address on Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a commitment to intensify military operations unless Hamas complies with Israel’s terms for a cease-fire.
Netanyahu outlined plans to evacuate Palestinians to a designated “sterile zone” in southern Gaza, free from Hamas control, where humanitarian assistance would be provided.
He stated, “Ultimately, the entire Gaza Strip will be under Israel’s security control and Hamas will be completely defeated.”
0 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!