Despite the entry of aid trucks into Gaza for the first time in 11 weeks, the United Nations says that no humanitarian supplies have yet reached civilians, deepening fears of famine and escalating global condemnation of Israel’s actions.
On Tuesday, 93 aid trucks reportedly crossed into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border carrying essential items like flour, baby food, and medical supplies. However, the UN revealed that its teams were unable to access the supplies, as Israeli authorities had not cleared them to transfer the goods to UN-run warehouses within Gaza.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that UN staff “waited several hours” at the crossing, but the aid was not released. He cited operational hurdles, saying Israel requires aid to be offloaded and reloaded under strict security, complicating delivery efforts.
“This is a drop in the ocean of what’s needed,” Dujarric said, stressing that an estimated 600 trucks are needed daily to alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Global pressure on Israel has surged. The UK has suspended trade talks with Israel over what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a “morally unjustifiable” military escalation. The European Union is also reviewing its trade agreement with Israel.
The UN’s humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that 14,000 babies face death if aid is not allowed in urgently. Though the UN later clarified that the 14,100 figure refers to expected severe malnutrition cases over a year, officials insisted that urgent action is required.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed this long-term projection, but UN officials said there are babies already in critical condition due to lack of nutrition, worsened by their mothers’ own starvation.
Since the war began in October 2023 following Hamas’s deadly cross-border attack, at least 53,475 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. That includes 3,340 deaths since the Israeli offensive resumed.
While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the partial reopening of aid channels, other Western leaders including those from the UK, France, and Canada have called for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations and unrestricted humanitarian access.
