Aid trickles in as Gazans face desperate situation

The Israeli authorities have allowed a convoy of 80 trucks carrying much needed humanitarian aid to cross the Kerem Shalom border with the Gaza Strip. The aid includes medicine and food sent from Egypt, Jordan, Greece and UN aid agencies. The Nahal Oz terminal in the north was also opened to allow the transfer of 200,000 litres of fuel for Gaza’s power station as well as 120 tonnes of cooking gas.

However, the Israeli militray claims the aid is not getting through to those that need it most. “We are trying to get 80 trucks through carrying medicine and different aid to the Gaza Strip, but Hamas is not allowing the Palestinians to come and get and accept those trucks. So the question is, is Hamas for the Palestinians or against Palestinian civilians,” an army spokeswoman said.

Aid agencies say the Israeli assault on Gaza has aggravated the humanitarian crisis on the Strip, with electricity and communications cut and the traumatised population facing dire food shortages. Hospitals are overrun and without mains electricity and access to fresh water is becoming ever more urgent.

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tags: Israel, Palestinian Territories