 "UN warns of catastrophe in Gaza: 93 trucks for 2 mn people after 11-week blockade, Strip faces starvation")
Israel has begun allowing limited humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip amid growing international pressure to ease its military campaign and address mounting civilian suffering, more than 19 months after the start of its war with Hamas.
The move follows intensified calls from allies and aid groups, who say the recent trickle of supplies is far from adequate for the enclave’s 2.3 million residents, most of whom have been displaced and are facing what the United Nations calls “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity.
Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), dismissed the aid flow as “a smokescreen,” accusing Israeli authorities of attempting to avoid blame while keeping people “barely surviving.”
Mounting toll, limited access
Israel launched its offensive in October 2023 after Hamas militants crossed the border and killed about 1,200 people while taking 251 hostages. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 53,000 people in Gaza. most of them civilians, including women and children, have been killed since the fighting began.
While a number of hostages have been exchanged for Palestinian detainees in previous negotiations, Hamas is believed to still be holding 58 people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that Israel’s war aims include destroying Hamas, returning the hostages, and ensuring Israel’s long-term security.
On Wednesday (May 21), residents in Gaza waited for aid trucks to reach them after Israeli authorities allowed approximately 100 UN vehicles to enter the territory. The entry comes after an 11-week total blockade. However, aid workers said much of the newly arrived assistance had not yet been distributed.
International pressure and faltering negotiations
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday (May 20) that a strong majority of the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers supported re-evaluating trade ties with Israel to push for more humanitarian access. “The countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable,” she said. “What we want is to unblock the humanitarian aid.”
Talks to broker a new ceasefire and hostage deal resumed over the weekend in Doha, but by late Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of rejecting the latest terms. Israel recalled its senior negotiators from Qatar while leaving a smaller team behind.
Impact Shorts
View AllThe continued hostilities and worsening humanitarian conditions have led to a sharp rise in international criticism of Israel’s military tactics, even from long-standing allies.
With inputs from agencies
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