Amid the looming hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, massive aid delivery was the first time in months to reach the surrounded and embattled coastal areas in a few months.
A convoy of about 100 cargoes entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, according to sources in the Palestinian Territory.
A few hours ago, the Israeli military announced that it would observe daily “tactical pauses for humanitarian purposes” in parts of the Gaza Strip from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (0700-1700 GMT) until further notice.
The suspension applies to Al-Mawasi in the southwest of the coastal zone, Deir al-Balah in the center and Gaza in the north – an area where Israeli troops do not operate.
Israel designated Al-Mawasi as a “humanitarian zone” in the early days of the war. However, the military has attacked there many times since then, resulting in many deaths. Deir Al-Balah is home to the central warehouse of the World Health Organization (WHO), and when Israeli ground forces first entered the region, the WHO said it was damaged.
In addition, the humanitarian corridor will be in place from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to allow the United Nations and aid organizations to provide food and medicine to the population in Gaza, the Israeli military said.
UN: 500 to 600 aid trucks are required every day
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNFA) welcomes the measures announced by Israel, but they say they are not enough to avoid deepening the humanitarian crisis in the territory.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the agency called for the opening of all border crossings to Gaza, warning that “flood Gaza aid” is needed to prevent the intensification of hunger.
It said at least 500 to 600 trucks were needed per day, and said it hoped that “thousands of trucks with food, medicine and sanitation” from Jordan and Egypt could be brought to Gaza now.
United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomes the Israeli military announcement. He wrote on X: “When we engage with the team on the ground, we will do everything we can to attract as many hungry people as possible in this window.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) said on X that it “has teams on the ground and enough food can attract people in need on a large scale.”
The United Nations Children’s Charity United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), welcomes the announcement of Israel’s aid to Airdrops.
UNICEF posted on X: “This is an opportunity to start turning the disaster around and save lives.”
“Since the ceasefire collapsed in March, children have been trapped in a nightmare and deprived of basic knowledge to survive. They are hungry, traumatized, and have no safe place.”
“In Gaza, the overall population of more than 2 million people is seriously unsafe. Every third of people are not eaten for a few days, and 80% of all reported deaths of hunger are children.”
Israel’s actions are in response to growing international criticism of military operations in the Palestinian territory. Only limited aid has arrived in the region since Israel ended its ceasefire in March.
Who recently warned of a fatal hunger crisis among residents of the Gaza Strip. Israel denies the risk of famine, but describes it as a “movement” by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Far-right Israeli minister slams Gaza
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right national security minister Itama Ben-Gvir criticized the restoration of greater aid to the Gaza Strip.
In the post on X, Ben-Gvir described the move as the face of an Israeli soldier.
Ben-Gvir also wrote that the provision of humanitarian aid is tricky with “keeping the enemy’s life”.
The Gaza war was triggered by an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 by Hamas and other Palestinian extremist groups, which killed about 1,200 people and saw more than 250 people taking hostages in Gaza.
Nearly 60,000 people in Gaza have been killed since then, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Authority on the territory. These numbers cannot be independently verified, and do not distinguish between civilians and fighter jets, but are largely reliable as considered by the United Nations.
The Israeli military said seven pallets – including flour, sugar and canned food – were placed into the Gaza Strip overnight.
The Israel Times reported that this was the first time Israel has put aid supplies into the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, and had previously only allowed other countries to make such delivery.
Palestinians carry a bag of flour along the humanitarian aid convoy along Al-Rashid Street. Amid the looming hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, massive aid delivery was the first time in months to reach the surrounded and embattled coastal areas in a few months. OMAR ASHTAWY/APA Images by Zuma Press Wire/DPA
