New Gaza Aid Deliveries

The World Food Programme delivered enough food for 25,000 people to Gaza City early on Tuesday, with the first successful road convoy to the north of the Gaza Strip since 20th February. United Nations representatives continue to say people in northern Gaza are on the brink of famine, and that daily deliveries of food are needed directly into the north of the Strip, rather than traveling up from the south.

Photo of convoy taken by the IDF.

Israeli officials confirmed that Tuesday’s convoy used a new military road, stretching from the border near Be’eri to the coast of the Gaza Strip, as part of an experiment to prevent Hamas terrorists from stealing the aid. Like other aid shipments, it was inspected by Israelis at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, but then travelled north to enter the Strip using the new route – an experiment that was requested by Israel’s politicians.

This initiative came in parallel with the sailing of an aid ship, the Open Arms, from Cyprus carrying 200 tonnes of relief supplies for Gaza. Whilst a useful addition, this seaborne route is thought to be no replacement for delivering aid by land. The main problem with the land option has been Hamas capturing much of the aid and either storing it for themselves or selling it back to Gazan civilians at extortionate prices.

We should expect more options for the delivery of aid to be tested in the coming weeks.