Keystone-SDA
Israel announced on Monday that first cargoes of humanitarian aid since the release of crossing points had been distributed in the Gaza Strip, where malnutrition reaches “alarming levels”, according to the UN.
(Keystone-ATS) For the first time in months, trucks loaded with international aid from Egypt had crossed the Rafah crossing point on Sunday, which leads south of the besieged Palestinian territory, after the announcement by Israel of a limited break in fighting for humanitarian purposes.
“For the first time, I received about five kilos of flour, which I shared with my neighbor,” said Jamil Safadi, who takes shelter in a tent, with his wife, six children and his sick father, near the Al-Quds hospital, in the north of Gaza.
For the past two weeks, this 37 -year -old man has risen before dawn and has left for food. For the first time on Monday, he did not return empty -handed. Others were less likely and say that help has been stolen or that guards drew in their direction near distribution points.
“I saw dead and injured. People have no choice but to go and get flour every day. What happened from Egypt is very limited, “said Amir Al-Rash, a 33-year-old who has not found food.
The drops of food had also resumed on Sunday above the territory, besieged by Israel since the start of the war against Hamas almost 22 months ago, arousing the hope of many Palestinians who watched the parachutes in heaven.
“Hunger is ruthless”
“Israeli aircraft have dropped seven food funds (…) in the northwest of the city of Gaza. Dozens of people rushed to recover them, it looks like a war, “said Samih Humaid, a 23 -year -old man, returned with” only three boxes of beans “.
“Hunger is ruthless,” he added.
At the beginning of March, Israel had imposed an airtight blockade on Gaza, very partially relaxed at the end of May, which led to very serious shortages and a risk of widespread famine, according to the UN and the NGOs, among its more than two million inhabitants.
Malnutrition rates in the Gaza Strip are reaching “alarming levels”, warned the World Health Organization on Sunday, believing that the “deliberate blockage” of humanitarian aid had cost many inhabitants.
On Monday, Israel announced that the aid routed by 120 trucks had been “distributed” in the territory by the UN and international organizations, after the announcement of a daily break in several sectors on Sunday.
Israel, which controls all access to Gaza, denies all aid blocking, accusing the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas of looting cargoes and humanitarian organizations not to distribute them.
But these organizations claim that Israel requires excessive restrictions that prevent them from working.
“There are secure corridors. They have always existed, but today it is official. There will be no more excuses, “said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
500 to 600 trucks
Several humanitarian officials welcomed the resumption of aid deliveries, while stressing that they remained very insufficient in the face of immense needs.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, warned that it took at least 500 to 600 to 600 food trucks, drugs and hygieme products every day to provide the needs of the Gaza population.
“We hope that UNRWA will finally be allowed to bring thousands of trucks (…) they are currently in Jordan and Egypt and are waiting for the green light,” added the agency.
Despite the humanitarian breaks announced by Israel, the Palestinian Civil Defense announced on Monday the death of 16 people in strikes or shots near aid distribution points.
Two Israeli human rights organizations accused Israel on Monday of committing a “genocide” in Gaza.
The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the Israeli side the death of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count made from official data.
In response, Israel launched an offensive which left at least 59,821 dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health of Hamas, deemed reliable by the UN.
As the international pressure on Israel is intensifying to put an end to the war, the UN, driven by France and Saudi Arabia, leans on Monday on the future threatened with the solution to two states, Israeli and Palestinian.
