US deadline expires: Will Israel face consequences over Gaza aid promises?
Last yearʼs US-set deadline for Israel to boost Gaza aid flow ends today. Despite opening new crossing points and allowing more trucks‚ humanitarian groups say basic needs remain largely unmet
About a year ago‚ the US gave Israel a clear-cut choice: boost Gaza aid or risk losing military backing. Today that deadline hits its mark‚ but the situation remains dire
The north-south divide in Gaza shows troubling patterns - while some aid reaches southern areas the northern region faces critical shortages. Benjamin Netanyahuʼs government opened a new crossing point at Kissufim (located mid-Gaza); however aid groups cant properly use it due to security issues
Aid delivery faces multiple road-blocks: trucks need to pass thru israeli-monitored routes‚ criminal groups often grab supplies‚ and the UNʼs logistics system faces many limits. The daily truck count stays at roughly 30-35 (way below the 350 minimum that was asked for)
- No commercial goods allowed in
- Fresh food prices hit record highs
- Most trucks use only one crossing
- Aid workers face constant dangers
The situation in northern Gaza raises red flags. Three main hospitals - Kamal Adwan‚ Al Awda and Indonesian - dont get enough supplies; its almost impossible to deliver aid there. Muhannad Hadi from the UN visited north Gaza and said the scene was “beyond imagination“
The Israeli agency COGAT claims theres no crisis. Gen Elad Goren stated “there is no starvation and no famine“ but UN data shows different facts: every person in Gaza faces food problems‚ and some areas might already be in famine conditions
Things are going from bad to worse
Winter brings extra problems - thousands live in make-shift tents or damaged buildings‚ with little protection from cold weather. Aid groups say it would take 2+ years just to get basic shelter materials to everyone who needs them
