Israel has allowed over 100 aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, carrying flour, baby food, and medical supplies, the Israeli military said on Wednesday. However, United Nations officials say the humanitarian assistance has yet to reach the civilian population, with distribution still paralysed by security and logistical barriers.
The move comes after an 11-week blockade that has deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. On Monday and Tuesday alone, 98 trucks were permitted entry, followed by another 100 on Wednesday, according to the Israeli army. But aid workers say none of the supplies has made it to Gaza’s soup kitchens, bakeries, hospitals or markets.
“None of this aid – that is a very limited number of trucks – has reached the Gaza population,” said Antoine Renard, country director of the World Food Programme.
The continued bottleneck has left thousands of tonnes of aid stranded at crossing points, with around a quarter of Gaza’s population now at risk of famine, Renard warned.
“I’m here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person,” said Mahmoud al-Haw, who queues for hours each day in hopes of receiving a portion of lentil soup to feed his children.
Israel initially imposed a total blockade on supplies into Gaza in March, alleging that Hamas fighters were intercepting civilian aid—a claim the group denies. But under growing international and domestic pressure, Israel has begun to allow limited deliveries by humanitarian organisations, while working to establish a new U.S.-backed distribution model.
The model, expected to be operational by the end of the month, involves private contractors operating through secure hubs, but the United Nations has declined to participate, citing concerns over impartiality and neutrality.
While the UN blamed security issues at the Kerem Shalom crossing for preventing aid distribution, there were signs of limited progress late on Wednesday. Witnesses reported seeing trucks carrying flour in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, and Nahid Shahaiber, a major transport contractor, confirmed that dozens of trucks loaded with flour and nutritional supplements had entered southern Rafah.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel could accept a temporary ceasefire to enable the return of hostages, but insisted the military campaign would continue until full control of Gaza was achieved.
As aid agencies continue to warn of impending famine, critics at home and abroad say Israel risks becoming a “pariah state” if it fails to resolve the humanitarian impasse.
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