Under pressure from the U.S., Israel has pledged to increase aid to Gaza, but there are few signs of these promises materializing. International officials report widespread starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. Agency for International Development and President Biden have emphasized the need for Israel to expedite humanitarian aid shipments. Despite Israel’s claims of sending 400 trucks a day into Gaza, U.N. workers report a lower number of aid trucks entering the territory, with only slight increases in aid noticed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to take steps to increase aid to Gaza following criticism from the U.S. after an airstrike killed aid workers. Israel initially planned to reopen the Erez crossing into northern Gaza, but later dropped the plan in favor of building a new crossing. The port in Ashdod is not yet accepting aid shipments, and there has been no significant increase in trucks received at Gaza warehouses. Before the conflict, 500 trucks entered Gaza daily, supplemented by produce from within the territory, which was still barely enough due to the 17-year blockade.
The discrepancy in aid numbers between Israel and the U.N. is due to different counting methods. Israel counts every truck it inspects and allows to pass into Gaza, while the U.N. counts only trucks returning from the zone where the aid is deposited for Palestinian drivers. The process of transferring aid from Israeli inspection to the Gaza side is slowed down by the partial closure of the crossing, unloading times, and safety concerns. The U.N. has called for a return to prewar procedures to allow for smoother aid distribution.
The transfer of aid from Israeli inspection to Gaza is slowed down by various factors including partial closure of the crossing, unloading times, and safety concerns. Israel denies restricting the crossing’s hours and blames the U.N. for the aid backup, suggesting that the agency lacks enough workers to move aid to warehouses timely. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that increasing aid efforts is a top priority, aiming to send 500 trucks per day to Gaza. However, slowdowns at the crossings and convoy safety concerns may continue to hinder distribution.
The current situation in Gaza has led to a heavy dependence on relief handouts, causing the market to shut down. Without sustained aid delivery, the situation in Gaza may become unsustainable. The U.N. has called for a return to prewar procedures to allow for a significant amount of commercial goods, in addition to humanitarian aid, to pass through. As Israel aims to increase aid efforts, challenges in distributing aid remain, threatening the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It is crucial for all parties involved to work towards expediting aid deliveries to alleviate the suffering in the besieged enclave.
