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Mada
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Israel allows first aid trucks to enter Gaza City after ‘imposed famine' of over 80 days
Israel has allowed aid trucks to enter Gaza City for the first time in nearly three months, according to Nahed Shehaibar, head of the Private Transport Association, which provided trucks for the deliveries, and an eyewitness who saw the trucks pass on the road. 'The Occupation allowed three trucks carrying food supplements to enter Gaza City,' Shehaibar told Mada Masr. This is the first aid of its kind to reach the areas of the Gaza Strip north of the Netsarim axis since Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas in early March and resumed its genocidal war and siege against Palestinians in the strip. The siege was interrupted last week when small quantities of food aid were allowed to enter central and southern areas of the strip, though two aid distribution sources said at the time that Israel refused to grant permission for aid to enter north Gaza. Agencies in the aid distribution network coordinated with Israel for permission to allow the three trucks to enter northern Gaza at night, Shehaibar said. Trucks must gain Israeli military clearance for their passage to the north, Abdel Nasser al-Ajramy, head of the Bakery Owners Association in Gaza, told Mada Masr last week. Israel refused to allow the trucks to travel at night, only allowing the trucks to enter during daylight hours on Sunday morning, Shehaibar added. The trucks were carrying aid that had entered via the Karam Abu Salem crossing several days ago, he said. They took Rashid Street to arrive at Gaza City, according to Shehaibar. Most of the trucks' contents reached warehouses in the Daraj area in Gaza City's east. Shehaibar noted, however, that some citizens raided the vehicles at the Samer junction in the center of Gaza City, saying it is 'the Occupation which forced citizens to do this by imposing famine and preventing the entry of food for months.' Theft of food and other supplies has become increasingly common across the strip as scarcity has set in amid Israel's blockade on all food, fuel and medical supplies, in effect for more than 80 consecutive days. Footage shared on social media showed a large crowd rushing toward a truck. An eyewitness who was present at the Samer junction said that dozens of citizens boarded the trucks thinking the aid was flour and were surprised to discover it contained only food supplements. The items stolen were insignificant, the eyewitness said, noting that it didn't take long for the trucks to bypass the crowds and continue on their way. Local officials have estimated that over 1 million people are currently sheltering in Gaza City, in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have advanced over recent days, while a heavy bombardment campaign has destroyed much of the northern towns of Beit Lahia and Jabalia. Northern Gaza is separated from the central and southern governorates by a strip of land dubbed the Netsarim axis and occupied by Israeli forces. There have been reports of indiscriminate killing and abductions by Israeli forces at the site. Flour was delivered on Thursday last week to some of the strip's bakeries, namely in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis in the south and central regions. The total amount of aid that has arrived in the Gaza Strip since the opening of the Karam Abu Salem crossing a few days ago is 300 trucks for various institutions, Shehaibar noted. Before Israel launched its aggression on the strip in October 2023, around 500 trucks entered the coastal enclave daily. Aid agencies have pointed out that the supplies allowed into the strip will do little to mitigate the dire need among people suffering amid nearly three months of uninterrupted war and blockade. UN humanitarian coordinator Tom Fletcher described the permitted supplies as a drop in the ocean and totally inadequate.
Days of Palestine
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Bakery Association: Only 4 Bakeries Operating in Gaza as Israeli Forces Block Access
DaysofPal – Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Bakery Owners Association in the Gaza Strip, confirmed that only 4 out of 25 bakeries contracted with the World Food Programme (WFP) remain operational amid the ongoing Israeli siege. In statements issued Saturday, Al-Ajrami explained that the four functioning bakeries are all located in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. The Israeli occupation, he added, is preventing numerous bakeries from operating by enforcing evacuation orders and designating certain areas as 'red zones.' In Khan Younis Governorate, no bakeries are currently operational due to the dire security situation, continuous shelling, and mass displacement of residents. One bakery in Nuseirat Camp briefly reopened for a single day but was forced to close again after overwhelming crowds of starving civilians stormed the facility. The bakery ultimately returned its supplies to the WFP, stating it could not continue operations under such chaotic conditions. Al-Ajrami suggested that distributing flour directly to residents might offer a temporary solution, easing pressure on bakeries and restoring a minimal sense of food security. In northern Gaza, he said, most bakeries have been either bombed or forced to cease operations due to the relentless bombardment. The few that remain are unable to function amid the escalating genocide and lack of resources. Flour supplies remain extremely limited. Many governorates have received none, due to both Israeli control over aid trucks and the looting of shipments by lawless groups in Khan Younis. Of the 140 bakeries that operated before the war, only 50 remain standing. Twenty-five are known to be still under contract with the WFP, but the status of the remaining 25 has been unknown since March. On Friday, the United Nations World Food Program confirmed that it has yet to receive Israeli approval to resume direct distribution of flour and other aid to families in Gaza. Currently, the only option available is to work with a small number of bakeries to produce and distribute bread. In an official statement, the WFP reiterated its full commitment to supporting Palestinian families but warned that the continuing ban on direct aid delivery only worsens the suffering—particularly among children, the elderly, and the sick. The statement further emphasized that current conditions—marked by severe movement restrictions and limited supplies—are undermining humanitarian efforts and increasing the risk of full-scale famine. The WFP called for the immediate restoration of direct distribution to address urgent needs and prevent the total collapse of the humanitarian situation. The organization concluded by reaffirming its dedication to finding viable solutions and urged the international community and local authorities in Gaza to facilitate its mission during this critical phase. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Famine Grips Gaza as All Bakeries Shut Down Amid Ongoing Genocide
DaysofPal- A severe humanitarian catastrophe has unfolded in the Gaza Strip as all bakeries across the enclave ceased operations on Friday due to the unavailability and skyrocketing cost of flour. The closure marks a devastating escalation in the ongoing siege that has now surpassed 64 consecutive days. Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Bakery Owners Association in Gaza, confirmed the shutdown, stating that flour prices have reached unprecedented levels. 'All bakeries in the Gaza Strip have stopped operating,' Al-Ajrami said, warning that even charitable food kitchens, known as Takayas, have been forced to close their doors. The shutdown comes amid dire warnings from the Government Media Office, which described the situation as an 'imminent humanitarian disaster.' According to the office, the Israeli occupation continues to enforce a complete blockade, barring the entry of baby formula, nutritional supplements, and critical humanitarian aid. This has left over 70,000 children hospitalized due to severe malnutrition, with 3,500 under the age of five at imminent risk of death by starvation. An estimated 290,000 children are now teetering on the edge of famine, while 1.1 million children face daily hunger without access to basic nutrition. 'This is a crime of genocide,' the Media Office declared, accusing the Israeli occupation of using starvation as a weapon in what it called a 'systematic policy of extermination.' The office condemned the 'shameful international silence' and called on the global community to take urgent action. 'The denial of food and medicine to children under siege is a blatant violation of international law,' the statement added, holding the international community responsible for its failure to intervene. Humanitarian organizations, UN institutions, and regional stakeholders have been urged to pressure for the immediate and consistent opening of Gaza's crossings and the entry of lifesaving aid. Local leaders and clan representatives echoed this plea, condemning the Israeli military's use of starvation as a tactic of war and appealing directly to regional powers and U.S. President Donald Trump to act swiftly. Since March 2, the Israeli occupation has kept Gaza's crossings closed to all forms of relief, medical, and food assistance, exacerbating an already dire crisis and pushing the population further toward mass starvation amid an ongoing campaign widely denounced as genocidal. Shortlink for this post:
