In a statement made by U.N. humanitarian officials on Tuesday, it was revealed that the flow of aid into Gaza has seen a significant boost since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19. Notably, items such as tents, which were previously subject to Israeli restrictions, have witnessed a notable increase in availability. On Monday, Hamas declared a halt in the release of Israeli hostages until further notice, citing what they perceive as Israeli violations of the truce, thus risking the rekindling of the 15-month conflict.
Among the alleged violations reported by Hamas are claims that Israel has obstructed the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as outlined in the ceasefire agreement. These items include mobile houses, tents (numbering 60,000), heavy machinery for debris removal, and fuel. Responding to inquiries regarding the current status of aid deliveries to Gaza, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated during a press briefing in Geneva, “We have been able to significantly expand our humanitarian operations, providing food, medical supplies, shelter, and other forms of aid during the ceasefire period.”
In earlier communications, aid officials had indicated challenges in importing certain items such as shelter equipment due to Israeli concerns regarding their potential “dual use” for civilian as well as military purposes. Palestinians have urgently appealed for billions of dollars in emergency aid, particularly for housing units to accommodate those displaced by Israeli airstrikes and bombardments.
Contrary to accusations, Israel has refuted claims of preventing specific supplies, such as tent poles, from entering Gaza on aid trucks. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military agency responsible for overseeing aid deliveries to Gaza, confirmed that over 100,000 tents have made their way into the coastal strip since the ceasefire came into effect.
When inquired about the continuation of “dual use” restrictions by Israel, Laerke deferred to the Israeli authorities. Edem Wosornu, Director of OCHA’s Operations and Advocacy division, acknowledged that despite improvements in aid supplies following the ceasefire, the current assistance falls short of the urgent requirements on the ground. “We are unable to fully meet the current needs. Gaza has been severely devastated, and its infrastructure remains far from adequate. We will make every effort, but the aid deliveries are but a small fraction of what is needed,” she conveyed to a gathering of diplomats based in Geneva.
During the same meeting, the Head of Coordination at the International Council of Voluntary Agencies cautioned that the flow of aid could be at risk if all parties involved do not uphold the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The report was compiled by Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin, with additional contributions from James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, and underwent editing by Mark Heinrich.
