The US president announced on Friday that the US military would freeze humanitarian aid, including food and other supplies, to Gaza in the coming days. Joe Biden added that Washington would do everything it could to get more aid into the Palestinian territories.
The reports came a day after hundreds of Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid in northern Gaza, once again drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in the territory.
At least 576,000 people in Gaza – a quarter of the enclave's population – are one step away from starvation, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza said on Thursday that Israeli forces killed more than a hundred people trying to reach humanitarian aid trucks. The attack comes against a backdrop of growing frustration after five months of war following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
Israel, for its part, said Thursday's deaths were caused by unruly crowds rushing toward aid trucks, as victims were trampled or run over by civilian vehicles. An Israeli official added that troops, in a “limited response”, fired at groups of people who appeared to be threatening.
Doctors say children are already dying in hospitals as people eat animal feed and cactus to survive, and malnutrition and dehydration face “huge obstacles” in trying to get help in Gaza, the UN said.
Retired US Air Force General David Deptula told Reuters airdrops were something the military could effectively implement.
Israel “Knows” About Aid Program
However, there are doubts about the effectiveness of airdrop aid in Gaza. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said these would have limited impact on alleviating civilian suffering.
“This does not solve the root problem,” he said, adding that only opening land borders would allow the humanitarian crisis to be dealt with in a serious manner.
Another problem, the official added, is that the U.S. can't guarantee that aid won't end up in Hamas' hands, given that there are no U.S. soldiers on the ground.
“Aid workers often complain that airdrops provide good photo opportunities, but they are a poor way to deliver aid,” said Richard Cowan, director of the International Crisis Group. Once there is a lull in the conflict, the only way to deliver adequate aid will be through aid trucks, the official added.
“There is no doubt that the situation in Gaza is so dire that any number of products can alleviate at least some of the suffering. But this is a temporary Band-Aid,” Cowen said.
An Israeli official in Washington said, “We know about releasing humanitarian aid. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not respond to questions about whether the United States sought Israel's approval for the launch or whether it was coordinating the operation.
The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs said Friday that UN aid arrived in northern Gaza for the first time in more than a week. The United Nations provided medicines, vaccines and fuel to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.
The World Food Program said ten days ago that it would suspend food aid to northern Gaza until conditions in the Palestinian territories allow safe distribution.
UNRWA (UN Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) reported this Friday that in February, an average of 97 trucks entered Gaza every day. In January, the daily average was 150 trucks. “The number of trucks entering Gaza is below the target of 500 per day,” he added.
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