UN says Israel still restricting aid to Gaza despite 801 trucks entering

The United Nations has reported that 801 aid trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday, but humanitarian groups stress that Israeli restrictions continue to severely limit the delivery of essential supplies to the besieged population.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) stated that “the UN and its partners seize every opportunity afforded by the ceasefire to scale up the provision of water, food, shelter, health, sanitation, hygiene, clothing, education and other assistance to the people of Gaza.”

However, aid organisations have criticised Israel for delaying and obstructing relief efforts, warning that the humanitarian response remains far below what is needed.

According to Ocha, the aid trucks entered the Palestinian enclave “through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal.” Yet, access remains highly restricted, and many supplies, including fuel and medical equipment, face severe limitations.

The UN agency for Palestine refugees (Unrwa) reported that it managed to provide food to 1.2 million people in the first two weeks of the ceasefire. It also opened 37 new shelters in northern Gaza, offering displaced families basic necessities such as tents, blankets, and winter clothing.