Hours after the Al Haj bakery handed out its last piece of bread, Jihad Al Shafie waited in vain, his family’s hunger pangs unsatisfied. The 300 aid trucks that entered Gaza since Monday have alleviated some hunger but not enough to prevent widespread desperation.
A mob descended on the bakery, forcing workers inside as desperate hands reached through the window for a bag of bread. The chaos left scores with nothing. “We see people waiting for bread, but no one is receiving any,” Al Shafie said, highlighting the need for urgent action from those in charge.
Despite Israel’s claims that it has allowed a basic amount of food into Gaza, thousands remain hungry. The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that 15 of its trucks were looted in southern Gaza while on their way to bakeries. “The aid going in now is a needle in a haystack,” said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
A joint US-Israeli aid program has been met with criticism from top humanitarian officials who warn it could endanger civilians and encourage forced displacement. The Bakery Owners Association has announced that bakeries will refuse to operate unless international organizations intervene to allow flour and other essential goods into Gaza.
The WFP called on the Israeli authorities to support its efforts to deliver more food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and safely. As hunger and desperation continue to rise, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address the crisis in Gaza.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/middleeast/gaza-food-aid-looting-desperation-intl