Israel’s Efforts to Expedite Aid into Gaza Under Scrutiny

Israel’s Efforts to Expedite Aid to Gaza Under Scrutiny as Famine Looms

Under intense international scrutiny, Israel has been making efforts to expedite the flow of aid into Gaza in recent weeks. The Biden administration and international aid officials have acknowledged Israel’s efforts, which include opening new aid routes to ensure that more aid trucks are reaching Gaza, particularly in the north.

Despite the increased levels of aid, experts warn that it is still too early to say that the looming famine, which has been a concern for weeks, is no longer a risk. Arif Husain, the chief economist at the United Nations World Food Program, emphasized the need for sustained progress in delivering food, water, and medicine to Gaza to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Israel’s decision to open more aid routes came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Biden following an Israeli airstrike that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen. Since then, aid has been reaching Gaza through new avenues, including a partially functioning border crossing into northern Gaza and the port of Ashdod.

Infrastructure work is underway to make the northern crossing permanent and open another nearby, according to Israeli officials. The increase in aid trucks reaching Gaza, especially in the northern half of the strip, is a positive development, with flour shipments from the World Food Program improving the efficiency of food deliveries.

In addition to overland convoys from Jordan, a maritime route is expected to open soon, with the United States announcing the construction of a floating pier to facilitate the delivery of meals to Gaza. However, there are discrepancies in the reported amount of aid reaching Gaza, with Israel and the United Nations using different methods to track truck deliveries.

While Israel has made efforts to increase aid distribution, further steps are needed to address the desperate need in Gaza, according to the U.N.’s top coordinator for humanitarian aid for the region. The international community will be closely monitoring Israel’s ongoing efforts to ensure that aid continues to flow into Gaza to prevent a potential famine.

Isabel Kershner reporting from Jerusalem.