Gaza receives humanitarian aid for first time following 81-day siege

For the first time since the start of the 81-day blockade by Israeli authorities, humanitarian aid has been allowed into the Gaza Strip.

According to the Media Office of the Gaza government, 87 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance entered the enclave, most of which are destined for international and non-governmental organisations, Caliber.Az reports.

Ismail al-Sawabita, head of the Media Office, told Turkish media that the shipments were delivered to meet humanitarian needs and would be distributed through international and local organisations.

Meanwhile, Nahid Shuahibir, chairman of the Gaza Private Transporters Association, reported that a total of 92 vehicles entered. Of these, 75 lorries delivered flour for bakeries in the southern and central parts of the enclave. All arrived through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing.

Shuahibir stressed that humanitarian supplies cannot reach the northern areas of Gaza via the Netzarim corridor, as the Israeli army has completely sealed off this route. He also said that 12 trucks carried nutritional supplements for children from UNICEF — these were unloaded in the city of Deir al-Balah. Another five lorries delivered sugar and other foodstuffs provided by the UAE.

Earlier, the Gaza government’s Media Office stated that Gaza requires at least 500 trucks of humanitarian aid and 50 fuel tankers daily. The closure of crossings by Israel exacerbates the already catastrophic shortage of essential supplies.

The day before, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger supported reviewing the EU-Israel partnership agreement, which grants trade preferences, and noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza had reached an unbearable level.

That same evening, the Gaza government reported that Israel had for the third consecutive day refused to allow humanitarian shipments waiting at the Kerem Abu Salem crossing to pass, thereby violating international obligations.

Amid this, the Israeli military intensified attacks on civilians in Gaza and announced the start of a ground operation aimed at expanding and consolidating the occupation.

Israeli forces also dropped leaflets from the air containing threats and calls for residents to evacuate northern areas of the Strip and move south.

The UN, human rights organisations, and international humanitarian agencies have already warned that the new ground operation will only worsen the already catastrophic situation in Gaza.

According to Israeli media, after forcibly relocating Palestinians to the south of the Strip, Israel has organised temporary shelter camps where it plans to distribute limited amounts of aid. Satellite images show that in the city of Rafah, the Israeli army has levelled substantial areas to set up such facilities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev