Due to increasing international pressure over the starvation of Gaza’s residents, Israel has been forced to pause attacks at certain times and allow aid delivery. As a result, some Arab countries have begun sending aid supplies to Gaza by air for the first time in months.
Israel launched a genocidal campaign against Gaza’s population in retaliation for Hamas’ jihadi attack on October 7, 2023. Although attacks were suspended under a ceasefire agreement on January 19, Israel violated the agreement and resumed attacks on March 18. Shortly before violating the agreement, on March 2, Israel tightened the blockade on Gaza, obstructing the entry of food and aid supplies.
After blocking aid for about three months, Israel allowed a small amount of food and aid supplies to enter Gaza on May 5. However, adequate aid has not been allowed in the past period. With food supplies in Gaza nearly depleted, residents are enduring extreme hunger. Over 130 people have died from starvation in Gaza so far, including six in the past 24 hours. Israel has faced major international criticism over the condition of Gaza’s residents. Most recently, Israel has said it will pause attacks for 10 hours daily in some areas of Gaza and allow aid entry through new routes.
Israel said it will stop attacks in Al-Mawasi from 10 AM to 8 PM until further notice. Al-Mawasi is designated as a safe humanitarian zone.
Taking advantage of Israel’s window for aid entry, Jordan and the UAE have sent 25 tons of aid supplies to Gaza by air. This is the first time in recent months that aid has been sent to Gaza by air. A Jordanian government spokesperson said air drops are not an adequate substitute for land-based aid delivery.
Palestinian health authorities said about 10 people have been injured so far by aid packages dropped from the air.
Israel has also designated routes it claims are safe for aid vehicles to travel. It says vehicles carrying food and medicine can travel safely on these routes between 6 AM and 11 PM. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said his agency will increase efforts to deliver food to Gaza’s starving population during these hours. He said staff in Gaza will do everything possible to reach as many people as possible with aid.
In the past 24 hours, 17 people were killed and 50 injured in Israeli attacks on central Gaza as residents waited for aid trucks.
