Israel's Gaza Aid Efforts Questioned: Slow Progress Despite Promises

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A week after Israel pledged to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza under US pressure, officials reported slow progress and emphasized the urgent need for more support, amid concerns of a looming famine in the Palestinian territory.

Israel initially approved the reopening of the Erez crossing between Israel and northern Gaza and the use of the Israeli port of Ashdod to transfer aid, following pressure from US President Joe Biden. However, a week later, Israeli media reported that these decisions have not been implemented. There are concerns that the Erez crossing could be blocked by Israeli protesters, who are against aid entering Gaza while hostages are still being held.

Israel recently announced the construction of a new crossing into northern Gaza. The military confirmed that an aid convoy utilized this crossing for the first time on Friday. However, they did not disclose the exact location of the crossing or the number of aid trucks involved.

This decision to increase aid efforts in Gaza coincides with USAID Administrator Samantha Power's statement on Wednesday. Power acknowledged that it is "credible" to recognize the presence of famine in certain parts of Gaza due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. She is the first US official to publicly support the assessment that famine is already a reality in Gaza.

Aid is moving into Gaza more quickly after international pressure on Israel, but the amount is being disputed. Israel is blaming the U.N., while the U.N. says restrictions by Israel are limiting deliveries. CNN's John Vause discusses the issue with Samah Hadid, Head of Advocacy, NRC Middle East.

Aid is now reaching Gaza at a faster pace due to international pressure on Israel. However, there is a disagreement over the quantity of aid being delivered. Israel is pointing fingers at the U.N., claiming that restrictions imposed by Israel are hindering aid deliveries. CNN's John Vause delves into this issue with Samah Hadid, the Head of Advocacy at NRC Middle East.

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Amount of aid being delivered in Gaza in dispute

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem, has expressed appreciation for the recent announcements made by the Israeli government. However, he emphasized that further actions are necessary to improve the facilitation of operations within Gaza.

Speaking to CNN, McGoldrick highlighted the numerous logistical challenges that need to be addressed, emphasizing that these issues require time to be resolved. He also pointed out that Israel's current restrictions on movement within the strip are adding complexity to the situation.

McGoldrick explained that trucks coming from Israel need to be unloaded and separated from water, food, and medical items before being loaded onto trucks and sent into Gaza. He clarified that just because 400 trucks come from Kerem Shalom, it does not mean all 400 trucks go directly into Gaza.

COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for overseeing the inspection and delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, stated that the number of trucks entering Gaza daily has doubled compared to last week. However, UNRWA, the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian affairs and monitoring aid flow into Gaza, has not reported a similar increase.

COGAT reported that a total of 419 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and sent to Gaza on Monday, followed by 468 trucks on Tuesday, marking the highest one-day number since the war began. Additionally, another 298 trucks were transferred on Wednesday.

In contrast, UNRWA stated that only 246 trucks entered on Monday, with 212 trucks on Tuesday and 141 trucks on Wednesday.

Before the war began, around 500 trucks of supplies were entering Gaza each day.

Aid shipments slated for Gaza are sniffed by a dog at the Kerem Shalom border crossing on March 14, 2024.

Aid shipments slated for Gaza are sniffed by a dog at the Kerem Shalom border crossing on March 14, 2024.

Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

One reason for the discrepancy in numbers is because Israel and the UN have different methods of counting the trucks that enter Gaza.

Israel counts the trucks that arrive at their checkpoints for inspection and entry, whereas UN agencies count the trucks inside Gaza that have arrived for distribution. According to Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), there are various factors that contribute to the difference in the tallies. These include multiple inspections, rejected items, and the process of unloading and reloading aid onto different trucks.

Humanitarian workers and government officials have mentioned to CNN that there is a noticeable trend of Israeli hindrance in allowing supplies into Gaza. COGAT sets arbitrary and conflicting criteria on what can be brought in.

According to Laerke, another factor is that trucks inspected by COGAT are usually only half full, as per the agency's regulations. However, COGAT denied to CNN that it mandates trucks to be half full.

Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development Samantha Power speaks at a hearing at the US Capitol on Wednesday, April 10, in Washington, DC.

Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development Samantha Power speaks at a hearing at the US Capitol on Wednesday, April 10, in Washington, DC.

Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA

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According to the USAID administrator, there is a credible assessment that famine is already happening in certain parts of Gaza. Laerke also mentioned that comparing the number of trucks day by day is not a reliable indicator, as there are often delays at crossings and warehouses.

COGAT has criticized the UN for its poor distribution of aid, claiming that hundreds of trucks filled with aid are waiting on the Gaza side of a crossing for UN agencies to pick up.

The dispute over the number of aid trucks is part of a larger ongoing disagreement between Israel and the UN. Israeli diplomats have criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for repeatedly calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, while Israel has accused UN staff of being involved in the attacks on October 7.

Despite Israel's commitment to increase aid, UN agencies report that the needs of Palestinians are still not being fully addressed.

UNRWA stated on Tuesday that there has been no notable increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza or in access to the northern region. On average, 177 aid trucks have been crossing into Gaza daily through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah land crossings since the start of April.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, amid concerns of a looming famine. Despite initial pledges from Israel to facilitate aid delivery, progress has been slow, with Israeli media reporting that decisions to reopen crossings and utilize the Israeli port of Ashdod have not been implemented. The dispute over the number of aid trucks entering Gaza further complicates the situation, with Israel and the UN providing conflicting reports.

The article also sheds light on the challenges faced by humanitarian workers, who have reported Israeli hindrance in allowing supplies into Gaza. COGAT's arbitrary and conflicting criteria on what can be brought in, as well as the regulation that trucks inspected by COGAT are only half full, add to the difficulties. Despite Israel's commitment to increase aid, UN agencies report that the needs of Palestinians are still not being fully addressed. The ongoing disagreement between Israel and the UN, including Israel's criticism of the UN's call for a ceasefire and accusations of UN staff involvement in attacks, further hinders efforts to provide much-needed aid to the people of Gaza.