Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens
This delivery is part of a broader effort to address Gaza's rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation. Alongside the aid convoy, limited supplies also entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday via the Zikim and Karem Abu Salem crossings. In a parallel operation, Jordanian and Emirati aircraft carried out the first airdrop operation in months, dropping 25 tonnes of relief supplies over northwestern Gaza, in coordination with Israeli authorities.
However, these efforts come amid growing international criticism and mounting warnings from the UN. Humanitarian agencies have condemned the ongoing blockade, with many describing the situation as a 'deliberate starvation strategy' targeting Gaza's civilian population.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would implement a 'humanitarian pause' starting Sunday morning, opening designated civilian corridors for aid distribution. Despite this, military operations and airstrikes continued, further deepening the crisis.
Gaza's Ministry of Health reported that 88 Palestinians were killed and 374 others injured in the past 24 hours. The overall death toll from the ongoing Israeli assault since 7 October 2023, has now surpassed 59,821, with 144,851 injured. Since 18 March, 8,657 people have been killed, and 32,810 wounded.
Health and humanitarian organizations in Gaza have made it clear that at least 600 aid trucks are needed daily to meet the basic needs of the population. The Government Media Office in Gaza issued a statement warning that, while dozens of trucks are entering, it remains 'far from enough to break the famine.' The territory, it said, faces a 'genuine humanitarian catastrophe' that requires urgent action.
In a related development, the Israeli navy stormed the Handala, a ship part of the 'Freedom Flotilla' that was attempting to break the blockade. The vessel was intercepted while sailing in international waters. Hamas condemned the Israeli raid as 'an act of piracy and terrorism,' accusing Israel of using its control over humanitarian corridors as a deceptive tactic to bolster its image globally. The movement argued that airdrops are merely a tool to manage starvation rather than solve it.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned Israel's actions, stating that Israel's prevention of food from entering Gaza is a clear violation of international law. 'This is unjustifiable,' he said. Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the announcement of safe land routes for aid convoys but emphasized that it is crucial for UN teams to reach as many people as possible.
In Cairo, Egyptian authorities hosted an Israeli technical delegation consisting of security and military officials to discuss logistics for aid delivery through the Rafah border crossing. Key topics included the coordination of truck routes within Gaza and the timing of Israeli-approved ceasefire windows to ensure safe passage of aid.
On the ground, Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, reported that it had targeted an Israeli armored personnel carrier with a powerful roadside bomb east of Khan Younis. Additionally, Israeli media reported that Hamas carried out a deadly ambush on Israeli 'tracker' units in southern Gaza, using a double agent to lure soldiers into a booby-trapped tunnel, resulting in casualties.
International organizations, including the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs, continue to stress that airdrops are no substitute for overland deliveries. A Jordanian official involved in the joint airdrop operation with the UAE explained that while the airdrops are a necessary symbolic gesture, they cannot replace the essential opening of border crossings. UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, reiterated that 'man-made hunger cannot be solved from the air; it can only be ended by political will—by lifting the siege and opening the gates.'
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