Israel Only Allows 30 Trucks To Enter Gaza Every Day, UNRWA Chief: Not Meeting The Needs Of 2 Million People

UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini when he met Palestinian refugees in southern Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons/UNRWA/Mohamed Hinnawi)

JAKARTA - UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said Israeli authorities allowed an average of only 30 humanitarian trucks per day to enter the Gaza Strip throughout last October.

"This is the lowest number in a long time, bringing aid back to the initial level of the war," Lazzarini said in a post on X on Monday, quoted from WAFA November 5.

"This cannot meet the needs of more than 2 million people, many of whom are starving, sick, and in a state of despair," he said.

He said this number represents only 6 percent of supply, including commercial and humanitarian, which was allowed into the Gaza Strip before the war.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has closed all land crossings with Gaza, blocked the entry of essential goods and supplies, and imposed restrictions on humanitarian aid, sometimes preventing it from reaching the Gaza Strip, which caused a severe life crisis.

Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesman said there were no restrictions imposed on aid entering Gaza, with 47 aid trucks entering northern Gaza on Sunday alone.

As previously reported, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Monday Israel had taken several steps to increase access to aid to Gaza, but so far failed to significantly change the humanitarian situation in the enclave, as the deadline set by the US to improve the situation was getting closer.

#Gaza pic.twitter.com/7gA4XvzScn

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) November 4, 2024

#Gaza pic.twitter.com/7gA4XvzScn

President Joe Biden's administration told Israel in a letter dated October 13, it had 30 days to take specific steps to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which in the past year underwent air and ground operations against the Hamas militant group.

Aid workers and UN officials say humanitarian conditions continue to worsen in Gaza.

"Until today, the situation has not changed significantly. We have seen an increase in several measurements. We have seen an increase in the number of crossings opened. But if you look at the recommendations set out in the letter, it has not been fulfilled," Miller said.

Miller said the results so far were "not good enough", but stressed the period of 30 days had not passed.

In addition, he declined to say what consequences Israel would face if it failed to implement the recommendation.

"What I can tell you is that we will follow the law," he said.

Washington, Israel's main arms supplier, has urged Israel to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza since the war with Hamas began with an attack by the Palestinian militant group on October 7, 2023 in southern Israel.

Letter dated October 13, sent by Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said failure to demonstrate a continuing commitment to implementing aid access measures could have implications for US policies and laws.

Article 620i of the US Foreign Aid Act prohibits military aid to countries that hinder the delivery of US humanitarian aid.