JERUSALEM – Israel says it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It says it doesn’t want a “starvation crisis” jeopardizing its new military offensive in the territory of over 2 million Palestinians.
Despite the announcement, no aid had entered Gaza by mid-afternoon Monday. Aid trucks that were briefly parked on the Israeli side of a border crossing turned back and drove away.
Global experts have warned of famine in Gaza after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade. Israel cut off all food, medicine and other supplies to the territory to pressure Hamas over ceasefire terms.
Israeli official says flour, baby food, medical supplies will enter Gaza
An Israeli official says a shipment of flour, baby food and medical supplies will be allowed into Gaza.
Eden Bar Tal, the Foreign Ministry’s director general, said the baby food had started entering, but there was no sign of any aid on the Gaza side of the border. He did not say how much aid would enter, where it would enter or when.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would allow some aid to enter Gaza for the first time in nearly three months under pressure from Israel’s allies.
Aid groups say hunger is widespread and have warned of famine if Israel does not lift its blockade on Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says 136 died in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours
The ministry says 136 bodies were brought to Gaza hospitals over the past 24 hours. The hospitals also received 364 wounded, according to the ministry’s daily report.
The overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war is now at 53,486, said the ministry. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because the militants operate in densely populated areas.
Hamas says there’s been no progress in ceasefire talks hosted by Qatar
A senior Hamas official says Israel insists on a partial deal to release some hostages without committing to ending the war.
Hamas will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The official was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity.
AN-AP
