Aid shipments worth around 90 truckloads have begun arriving in Gaza, marking the first significant influx of food since Israel’s two-month blockade was enforced. The United Nations (U.N.) has confirmed that aid deliveries are reaching warehouses and other points inside Gaza after days of delays.
However, aid officials say the shipment is a tiny fraction of what is needed to address the severe humanitarian crisis in the territory. The World Food Program has stated that more aid trucks need to arrive daily to meet the demands.
The blockade, which was implemented to pressure Hamas into surrendering and releasing hostages, has led to widespread hunger in Gaza. Israel claims it has been trying to prevent Hamas from diverting or profiting from aid deliveries, but international aid groups dispute this claim.
The U.N. has refused to participate in a new mechanism that would distribute relief in areas under Israeli security control, citing concerns that it would compromise their work. Instead, the agency is working under the old system, which allowed for smaller shipments of food into Gaza.
Despite the delay, some bakeries in central and southern Gaza have resumed production after being forced to shut down during the blockade. The bread is now being distributed for free by the U.N. agencies, but crowds are rushing to collect it, raising safety concerns for bakery workers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to escalate the war unless Hamas agrees to his conditions for a cease-fire. He stated that areas of Gaza will be under Israel’s security control and Hamas will be defeated if an agreement is not reached.
In northern Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital has been targeted by Israeli ground forces, with multiple attacks causing damage to medical supplies and outpatient tents. The hospital has run out of supplies and cannot admit new patients, citing a lack of warning or coordination from the military.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/world/gaza-aid-delays-israel.html