The Israeli military has blocked more than 80% of humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza this month, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), cited by Al Jazeera.
Between March 18 and 24, Israeli forces denied entry to 82% of aid deliveries intended for the enclave. "Critical supplies, including essential goods and ingredients for bakeries, remain largely inaccessible," the OCHA report stated.
Meanwhile, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that "hundreds of thousands" of people in Gaza are once again facing severe malnutrition and even the risk of famine due to Israel’s three-week-long blockade of humanitarian aid.
Aid deliveries had resumed in mid-January following a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US. The first phase of the deal, which lasted 42 days and ended on March 1, resulted in the release of 33 hostages.
However, on March 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted all humanitarian aid shipments and shut down border crossings. According to Israeli officials, the decision was made in response to Hamas allegedly rejecting a US-mediated proposal by special envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the ceasefire.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Public Domain
Based on TASS materials