Conflicting Reports Cloud Humanitarian Aid Entry into Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis
Amid rising fears of famine in the Gaza Strip, conflicting accounts surfaced Wednesday regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave, highlighting the deepening crisis as weeks of Israeli siege continue to choke off vital supplies.
The Israeli military claimed it had permitted the entry of 93 UN aid trucks carrying flour, baby food, medical supplies, and medicine through the Kerem Shalom crossing. However, United Nations officials did not confirm that the aid had actually reached Gaza.
In sharp contrast, Gaza’s Government Media Office flatly denied the delivery, accusing Israel of prolonging an effective blockade.
“Israel hasn’t allowed the entry of any humanitarian aid for over 80 days,” said Ismail Thawabteh, head of the media office. “The trucks are still at the border and have not been handed over to any humanitarian agency. Aid is being deliberately withheld as part of a systematic starvation campaign threatening the lives of more than 2.4 million Palestinians.”
The Israeli military maintained that the aid convoys were undergoing security inspections prior to entry, though details remain unclear.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Tuesday that Israel had approved the entry of around 100 aid trucks. Yet, approvals do not guarantee delivery. On Monday, only nine trucks were cleared to cross, and according to OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke, just five of those actually made it into Gaza due to logistical challenges.
“These five trucks do not even cover 1% of the essential needs in Gaza,” Laerke stressed.
The gravity of the crisis was underscored by Tom Fletcher, head of OCHA, who warned on BBC Radio 4’s Today program that 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours if humanitarian assistance fails to reach the enclave.
Since March 2, Israel has largely sealed Gaza’s border crossings, blocking the flow of food, medicine, and aid—a move aid groups say is pushing the territory to the brink of famine. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reports that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are surviving on a single meal every two to three days.
Despite mounting international appeals for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its military offensive on Gaza since October 2023, which has killed over 53,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children.
As Gaza stands on the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe, the conflicting narratives surrounding aid deliveries underscore the urgent need for clarity, accountability, and immediate action to avert further mass suffering.
