GAZA/JERUSALEM: Israel is failing to meet its commitment to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip following the recent ceasefire agreement, according to the World Food Program (WFP). Ross Smith, WFP’s emergency response official, stated in an interview with CNN that less than a third of the agreed-upon daily aid trucks have been permitted entry.
Smith highlighted the significant shortfall in the humanitarian effort, noting that Israel had committed to allowing 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily. However, the WFP has observed the entry of fewer than 200 trucks per day over the past four days.
The United Nations and its partners have continuously stressed that a massive and sustained surge in aid is vital to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and prevent famine-like conditions across the territory. The current figures represent a fraction of the capacity required to meet the basic needs of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced today that Israel has decided to proceed with opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow humanitarian aid transfers. This decision follows the return of the remains of four hostages by Hamas yesterday (Tuesday).
The move also involved the cancellation of punitive measures that Israel had intended to impose against Hamas, which included halving the number of aid trucks entering the sector. The opening of the Rafah crossing is a critical development, as it represents a key lifeline for aid delivery and the movement of personnel in and out of the enclave.
Despite the positive announcement regarding the Rafah crossing, the WFP’s figures underscore that the operational reality of aid delivery remains severely limited and far from the level needed, prompting continued concern among humanitarian organizations.
