The Israeli army said on Wednesday it had allowed 100 trucks with humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including flour, baby food and medical supplies. However, according to data from the United Nations and aid organizations, as of Thursday morning the aid had not yet reached the needy population, who remain in critical condition after weeks of blockade and intense fighting, reports "Reuters", quoted by BTA.
According to Antoine Renard, director of the World Food Program (WFP) for the region, “not a single one of these trucks has reached the people in Gaza“. The supplies remain blocked at the logistics hub at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, with security concerns preventing their distribution. The lack of an effective and neutral distribution mechanism further complicates the situation.
“I have been sitting here since eight in the morning to get one bowl of soup for six people - and it is not even enough for one,” said Gaza resident Mahmoud al-Haw, who spends hours every day waiting for food for his children.
The Israeli blockade on supplies to Gaza has been in place since March, with the government accusing Hamas of embezzling humanitarian aid - charges the group denies. Although steps have been taken in recent days to partially resume supplies under international pressure, about a quarter of the enclave's population remains at risk of starvation, and thousands of tons of food and medicine are still waiting at the border.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues - at least 50 people were killed in airstrikes and artillery shelling on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said. The Israeli military said it had hit 115 targets, including tunnels, rocket launchers and Hamas-linked sites.
International pressure on the Israeli government is mounting, with more voices inside the country demanding a ceasefire and the return of the hostages. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains adamant, saying that Israel is ready for a temporary truce only if the hostages are released, but will not end the offensive until Hamas is completely disarmed and driven out of Gaza.