Israel still blocking most Gaza aid as military carries out more attacks

"Authorities in Gaza say that Israel has only allowed a fraction of the humanitarian aid deliveries agreed on as part of the United States-brokered ceasefire into the enclave since the agreement came into effect last month. In a statement on Saturday, Gaza's Government Media Office said that 3,203 commercial and aid trucks brought supplies into Gaza between October 10 and 31. This is an average of 145 aid trucks per day, or just 24 percent of the 600 trucks that are meant to be entering Gaza daily as part of the deal, it added."

"We strongly condemn the Israeli occupation's obstruction of aid and commercial trucks and hold it fully responsible for the worsening and deteriorating humanitarian situation faced by more than 2.4 million people in the Gaza Strip, the office said in a statement. It also called on US President Donald Trump and other ceasefire deal mediators to put pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza without restrictions and conditions."

"A spokesperson for United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the UN's humanitarian office reported that aid collection has been limited due to the rerouting ordered by the Israeli authorities. You will recall that convoys are now forced to go through the Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt, and then up the narrow coastal road. This road is narrow, damaged and heavily congested, Farhan Haq told reporters."

Between October 10 and 31, 3,203 commercial and aid trucks entered Gaza, averaging 145 trucks per day, equal to 24 percent of the 600 trucks required daily under the ceasefire deal. The obstruction of aid and commercial trucks has worsened the humanitarian situation for more than 2.4 million people, causing shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter after two years of military bombardment. Calls were made for US President Donald Trump and other ceasefire mediators to pressure Israel to remove restrictions. The UN humanitarian office reported that rerouting convoys through the Philadelphi Corridor and a narrow, damaged coastal road has limited aid collection and highlighted the need for additional crossings and internal routes.

Read at www.aljazeera.com