Israel has agreed to increase aid deliveries to Gaza for one week, but the United Nations warns that more action is needed to prevent famine and a health crisis. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher made the remarks as Israel started limited pauses in fighting across three areas of Gaza to improve the humanitarian situation. These pauses allow for aid centers to be restocked under controlled conditions to prevent aid from being taken by Hamas militants.
Aid centers in Gaza were closed off in early March, but in May, were reopened with restrictions. There have been claims that emaciated children and images of starvation in Gaza have led to criticism of Israel’s actions. Mr. Fletcher stated that one in three people in Gaza has not eaten for days and children are malnourished.
Additionally, discussions with US government data suggest that there is no evidence that Hamas has stolen food supplies from UN agencies. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations working to deliver as much aid as possible.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces are halting military operations in certain areas of Gaza to allow for the delivery of aid, designed as secure routes to help UN and aid agencies to deliver food and supplies. Israel’s “tactical pause” was announced after Israel resumed airdrops of aid into Gaza. The IDF claims the drops would include pallets of aid providing flour, sugar, and canned food through international organizations.
Although some Palestinian residents have started receiving aid, others have reported not seeing any benefits from the airdrops and worry about the safety of their children. The situation is tense, with reports of Israeli strikes in the region, killing at least 41 Palestinians overnight into Sunday morning, with some of the victims being people who were seeking aid.
Focus on the crisis in Gaza is expected during talks between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump in Scotland. Downing Street confirmed that Sir Keir will discuss what more can be done to secure a ceasefire in the Middle East urgently, during the meeting with the US president at the Turnberry golf course.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-war-vast-amounts-of-aid-needed-to-stave-off-catastrophic-health-crisis-in-gaza-un-warns-13402838
