Aid for Gaza civilians reportedly amounts to only 10%, as per Israel's assessment, according to the UN.
In the Gaza Strip, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as aid deliveries face challenges and interceptions, leaving thousands in dire need.
Recent data from the UN's Panel of Monitoring and Tracking UN2720 reveals that nearly 87% of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza have been intercepted during transit. These interceptions occur either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors, according to the UN panel. However, the data does not provide a precise breakdown between aid taken by civilians versus armed groups.
The UN2720 dashboard, which tracks aid shipments via QR codes at key crossing points, shows that only about 13% of aid trucks actually reach their intended destinations inside Gaza. This stark disparity highlights a severe challenge in ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the intended recipients amid Gaza’s difficult security and political environment.
Independent sources have accused Hamas of diverting aid for its own use and controlling access, but the official UN2720 data remains non-specific beyond mentioning both civilians and armed actors as responsible for interceptions.
Recent developments include the acceleration of aid arrivals with aerial launches of food packages, coordinated with several partners, including Italy. Despite these efforts, the situation remains critical. Six people have died in the last 24 hours due to starvation, and twenty hostages are believed to still be alive but suffering from hunger.
Tragically, thirty-seven people have died from gunfire while waiting for aid, according to the WAFA agency. The bread mentioned is a part of a conflict in Gaza that has resulted in casualties among distribution centers.
Israel has closed all access to aid after the end of the ceasefire in March, allowing some openings under international pressure in the following months. The UN, NGOs, and several countries consider these aid efforts as insufficient to feed the entire population of Gaza.
The Red Crescent reported a raid in which one of its Palestinian workers died in the Gaza Strip. Young Evyatar David, a hostage, was reduced to a skeleton under a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, as seen in a macabre propaganda video from Hamas.
In response, Benjamin Netanyahu called for the Red Cross to provide food and medical attention to all the hostages in the Gaza Strip. COGAT, Israel's agency for coordinating activities in the Territories, announced the delivery of more than 23,000 tons of aid last week.
Amidst this crisis, the need for increased aid and transparency is more pressing than ever. The international community must work together to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need in Gaza, and that the complex aid diversion environment is addressed to prevent further suffering.
- Amidst the evolving news of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, there is an increasing focus on the general-news topic of war-and-conflicts, as well as crime-and-justice issues, with accusations of Hamas diverting aid and controlling access.
- The science and health-and-wellness sectors are urgently involved in the Gaza crisis, as recent reports show thirty-seven people have died from gunfire while waiting for aid, and six people have died from starvation.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of political affairs, Israel's closed access to aid after the ceasefire in March is met with concern from the UN, NGOs, and several countries, who view their aid efforts as insufficient to feed the entire population of Gaza.
