Trucks of humanitarian aid began moving ashore into Gaza early Friday via a temporary pier built by the U.S. military, marking the first sea shipments of aid to the enclave in two months. However, the supplies, which include food and other essentials, are falling short of meeting the dire needs of the population in Gaza, according to humanitarian groups.
The U.S. military announced the completion of a floating pier and causeway anchored to the beach in Gaza, as part of a maritime corridor initiative launched in March. While the aid shipments are a crucial step in providing relief to the war-torn territory, they are meant to supplement, not replace, deliveries through land crossings.
The situation in Gaza has worsened in recent months due to Israeli bombardment, strict inspections, and limited access to essential supplies. The flow of aid through land crossings has been severely restricted, particularly in southern Gaza following a military assault by Israel around the city of Rafah.
International aid agencies have reported increasingly dire conditions in Gaza, with Save the Children U.S. president Janti Soeripto describing the situation as unprecedented. Pressure has been mounting on Israel to ease the entry of aid, with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken urging action to address the humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. agency aiding Palestinians has reported a mass exodus of over 630,000 people from Rafah, leading to overcrowding and dire conditions in other parts of Gaza. Diplomats from 13 countries, excluding the U.S., have called on Israel to expand aid delivery, protect civilians, and work towards a sustainable ceasefire.
At the International Court of Justice, Israel defended its military operation in Rafah as limited and localized, denying accusations of genocide. The court is currently hearing a case filed by South Africa, which has called for urgent measures to prevent civilian harm in Gaza.
The aid shipments arriving in Gaza include food bars, therapeutic food for malnourished children, and hygiene kits, but they only scratch the surface of the immense need in the region. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the British government are among the donors providing essential supplies.
As the aid operation continues, efforts are being made to coordinate logistics and ensure the efficient delivery of supplies to those in need. The U.N. World Food Program is playing a key role in managing aid distribution through the newly established maritime corridor.
Pentagon officials are working to increase the daily delivery of aid trucks by sea, while emphasizing the importance of land border crossings as the primary pathway for assistance. The situation in Gaza remains critical, with ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis and provide much-needed relief to the population.
