Israel allows more aid into Gaza, but U.N. says much more needed
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced over the weekend that it would enable more food and medicine to enter the war-torn Palestinian territory after images of hungry people and malnourished children drew international condemnation.
Israel has also permitted humanitarian air drops. On Sunday, Israel, Jordan and the UAE all parachuted pallets of aid into the ruins of Gaza.
The drops look dramatic, but they're expensive, inefficient and potentially dangerous. People have been hurt and even killed by the heavy pallets during past air drops over the territory.
To meet the need, the bulk of the aid will have to come into Gaza by truck. Each truck can carry between 4 and 10 times as much as a parachute.
After 22 months of war, including months when Israel blocked all aid coming into Gaza, people are so hungry that they're looting the convoys.
Video from over the weekend showed men clambering to pull bags of flour off trucks before they could reach aid depots.
International charities have a new name for it — "self-distribution" — and it's a graphic depiction of the level of desperation in the Palestinian enclave.
On Sunday, 120 trucks worth of aid moved into Gaza. At least as much was expected to arrive on Monday — but it's not nearly enough. Before the war started, more 500 trucks per day was the norm.
Maryam Yahya is one of the roughly 2 million Gazans trying to survive in a tent.
"We haven't seen a thing," she said. "No aid ... from land, air or anywhere else."
Meanwhile, the war rages on. Israel's military has said it will pause the fighting in heavily populated areas from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. local time, for an unspecified number of days. But there have been more reports of people being shot trying to access food.
In a statement on Monday, the U.N. agency tasked with helping Palestinians, UNRWA, welcomed Israel's declaration of humanitarian pauses and the easing of restrictions on aid entering Gaza, but it stressed that much more was needed.
UNRWA warned that, according to its data, "1 in every 5 children is malnourished in Gaza City. More children have reportedly died of hunger; bringing the death toll … to over 100."
"We hope that UNRWA will finally be allowed to bring in thousands of trucks loaded with food, medicine and hygiene supplies. They are currently in Jordan and Egypt waiting for the green light," the agency said. "Opening all the crossings and flooding Gaza with assistance is the only way to avert further deepening of starvation among the people of Gaza. What's needed is at least 500/600 trucks of basics every day."
The Israeli military has also said it will secure safe routes for aid trucks to deliver and distribute their loads through Gaza. It's something that the U.N.'s aid agencies have been pushing for and, if it works, it will allow much needed food to finally reach the people who so badly need it.
"The Wizard of Oz" as you've never seen it before
John Oliver: The 60 Minutes Interview
Finding the plane used for Argentina's dictatorship-era "death flights" | 60 Minutes
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
University of Manchester student trapped in Gaza 'refuses to give up'
A student unable to take up her place at the University of Manchester - because she's trapped in Gaza - says she refuses to 'give up'. Dalya Ibrahim Shehada Qeshta was studying pharmacy at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, while her twin sister Dalal was specialising in engineering, when the campus was 'completely destroyed' in the ongoing conflict. The 22-year-old, from Rafah city in southern Gaza - who has family in the UK - said they 'refused to let go of [their] dreams' and applied to study in the UK. "Our university was completely destroyed, along with many of our personal belongings, and we lost access to education overnight," she said. "Like thousands of others, our lives were thrown into chaos. Education is not just a dream for us, it is our hope for healing, rebuilding, and having a future beyond war." Dalya has been offered a place to study pharmacy at the University of Manchester. Dalal secured a place at the University of Bristol on an aerospace engineering course. But both are unable to leave Gaza due to the closure of borders and crossings, as well as a lack of financial support. Last week, the Guardian reported that a group of 40 students in Gaza were unable to take their places at UK universities in September despite being awarded full scholarships due to a Home Office requirement for biometric data for visa applications. The UK-authorised biometrics centre in Gaza closed in October 2023 and it has been 'impossible' for the students to travel to centres in neighbouring countries. For Ms Qeshta, continuing her education is 'key to breaking the cycle of hardship,' she said, adding that it would 'change [their] lives for the better'. During the early months of the war, Ms Qeshta said her family home was 'completely destroyed' and they have been 'forcibly displaced' 11 times since. They are currently living in a tent in Al-Mawasi. Of life in Gaza, she said it was a 'living nightmare' and that children were searching for 'water and bread, not toys or books'. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here "Prices are unimaginably high, and basic essentials like flour, rice, or canned goods are almost non-existent," she added. "True hunger is not just a feeling, it's a daily reality. "Medicines and healthcare are either unavailable or unaffordable, and the sick often go without help. There's no sense of routine, just survival. "Children in Gaza no longer know what childhood means. The war has stolen their laughter, their innocence, and their dreams. "They search for water and bread, not toys or books. They are dying not because of illness or because they are hungry, but simply because they are children of Gaza." One of 'the most terrifying moments' the family experienced was in Al-Mawasi when 'shelling began without warning' as they were gathering their belongings, Ms Qeshta said. She added: "My brother was injured, and my sister's young children were paralysed with fear. We were caught between life and death, fleeing under fire." On another occasion, bullets pierced the family's tent as they were preparing a meal in a moment of 'terror' she will never forget, the student said. "But through all this darkness, we hold onto hope – hope that we can survive, rebuild, and one day live in peace," she added. "Hope that we can still pursue our dreams like any other young people in this world. "We refuse to give up. Even when everything is stripped away from us, we cling to our humanity, to our stories, and to the belief that our voices still matter." As pressure mounts on the UK government to take further action to help end the conflict, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced this week that the country could take the step of recognising a Palestinian state in September ahead of a gathering at the UN. The UK would refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. Although this is an 'important step', recognition 'should not be used as a bargaining tool' but as a 'moral and political obligation', Ms Qeshta said of the announcement. "We have seen many promises before. What matters most now is action. "I hope this move is real and followed by real change on the ground, because words alone cannot save lives. " Campaigners are reportedly calling on the government to grant students with scholarships a biometrics deferral and assist them in finding a safe route to a third country where they can complete their visa application before travelling to the UK. Of this group, a Government spokesperson said: "We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support." Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed, who is campaigning on this issue, said: "Gaza's education system, like so much else, has been all but obliterated. Schools have become overcrowded shelters, every university has been reduced to rubble, and educators have been deliberately targeted and killed." Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The Sheffield Central MP added: "Ireland, France and Belgium have acted to ensure their students can reach safety, the UK has not. "This is not hypothetical, some of these students have already been killed while waiting and others remain in constant danger. "I'm pressing ministers to address this as soon as possible, as every minute increases the likelihood that more young lives will be lost." The University of Bristol said they were unable to discuss individual cases and the University of Manchester has been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Student in Gaza unable to reach UK before start of term ‘refuses to give up'
A student trapped in Gaza who has been awarded a place at a UK university said she 'lost access to education overnight' but refuses to 'give up'. Dalya Ibrahim Shehada Qeshta was studying pharmacy at Al-Azhar University in Gaza while her twin sister Dalal was specialising in engineering when the campus was 'completely destroyed' in the ongoing conflict, she said. The 22-year-old, from Rafah city in southern Gaza and who has family in the UK, said despite this, the pair 'refused to let go of our dreams' and applied to study in the UK. 'Our university was completely destroyed, along with many of our personal belongings, and we lost access to education overnight,' she told the PA news agency. 'Like thousands of others, our lives were thrown into chaos. 'Education is not just a dream for us, it is our hope for healing, rebuilding, and having a future beyond war,' she said. Dalya has been offered a place to study pharmacy at the University of Manchester while Dalal secured a place at the University of Bristol on an aerospace engineering course. However, both are unable to leave Gaza as their way out is 'physically blocked' by the closure of borders and crossings in the region as well as a lack of financial support, Ms Qeshta said. Last week, the Guardian reported that a group of 40 students in Gaza are unable to take their places at UK universities in September despite being awarded full scholarships because of a Home Office requirement for biometric data for visa applications. According to the paper, the UK-authorised biometrics centre in Gaza closed in October 2023 and it has been 'impossible' for the students to travel to centres in neighbouring countries. For Ms Qeshta, continuing her education is 'key to breaking the cycle of hardship,' she said, adding that it would 'change our lives for the better'. During the early months of the war, Ms Qeshta said her family home was 'completely destroyed' and they have been 'forcibly displaced' 11 times since. They are currently living in a tent in Al-Mawasi. Of life in Gaza, she told PA it was a 'living nightmare' and that children were searching for 'water and bread, not toys or books'. 'Prices are unimaginably high, and basic essentials like flour, rice, or canned goods are almost non-existent,' she said. 'True hunger is not just a feeling, it's a daily reality. 'Medicines and healthcare are either unavailable or unaffordable, and the sick often go without help.' She said: 'There's no sense of routine, just survival.' 'Children in Gaza no longer know what childhood means,' she said. 'The war has stolen their laughter, their innocence, and their dreams. 'They search for water and bread, not toys or books. 'They are dying not because of illness or because they are hungry, but simply because they are children of Gaza.' One of 'the most terrifying moments' the family experienced was in Al-Mawasi when 'shelling began without warning' as they were gathering their belongings, Ms Qeshta said. 'My brother was injured, and my sister's young children were paralysed with fear. 'We were caught between life and death, fleeing under fire.' On another occasion, bullets pierced the family's tent as they were preparing a meal in a moment of 'terror' she will never forget, the student said. 'But through all this darkness, we hold onto hope – hope that we can survive, rebuild, and one day live in peace,' she added. 'Hope that we can still pursue our dreams like any other young people in this world. 'We refuse to give up. 'Even when everything is stripped away from us, we cling to our humanity, to our stories, and to the belief that our voices still matter.' As pressure mounts on the UK Government to take further action to help end the conflict, Sir Keir Starmer announced this week that the country could take the step of recognising a Palestinian state in September ahead of a gathering at the UN. The UK would refrain from doing so if Israel allows more aid into Gaza, stops annexing land in the West Bank, agrees to a ceasefire, and signs up to a long-term peace process over the next two months. Although this is an 'important step', recognition 'should not be used as a bargaining tool' but as a 'moral and political obligation', Ms Qeshta said of the announcement. 'We have seen many promises before,' 'What matters most now is action.' She added: 'I hope this move is real and followed by real change on the ground, because words alone cannot save lives. ' The student urged the international community not to 'turn away' from the suffering in Gaza and to push for an 'immediate end' to the conflict. 'We are not numbers,' she said. 'We are people, and we want to live.' Campaigners are reportedly calling on the Government to grant students with scholarships a biometrics deferral and assist them in finding a safe route to a third country where they can complete their visa application before travelling to the UK. Of this group, a Government spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the students and are considering the request for support.' Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed, who is campaigning on this issue, said: 'Gaza's education system, like so much else, has been all but obliterated. 'Schools have become overcrowded shelters, every university has been reduced to rubble, and educators have been deliberately targeted and killed.' The Sheffield Central MP added: 'Ireland, France and Belgium have acted to ensure their students can reach safety, the UK has not. 'This is not hypothetical, some of these students have already been killed while waiting and others remain in constant danger. 'I'm pressing ministers to address this as soon as possible, as every minute increases the likelihood that more young lives will be lost.' The University of Bristol said they were unable to discuss individual cases and the University of Manchester has been contacted for comment.
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Washington Post
From dawn to dusk, a Gaza family focuses on one thing: finding food
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Every morning, Abeer and Fadi Sobh wake up in their tent in the Gaza Strip to the same question: How will they find food for themselves and their six young children? The couple has three options: Maybe a charity kitchen will be open and they can get a pot of watery lentils. Or they can try jostling through crowds to get some flour from a passing aid truck. The last resort is begging.
