Only 12 trucks delivered to starving North Gaza since October

In Gaza, the humanitarian situation has drastically worsened over the past two and a half months since the escalation of conflict began following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite international aid efforts, Oxfam reported that only 12 out of 34 trucks authorized to enter northern Gaza were able to deliver food and water to the starving population. This equates to less than 36% of trucks being able to provide necessary aid, highlighting significant access blockages and obstructions faced by humanitarian organizations. According to Oxfam, the delays are attributed to systematic obstructions by the Israeli military, causing dire consequences for the residents of northern Gaza who remain in desperate need of food and water. Furthermore, the ongoing warfare has resulted in a staggering death toll in Gaza, with estimates indicating that over 45,317 people, primarily civilians, have been killed since the conflict escalated. Furthermore, various humanitarian organizations have stated that they have been consistently prevented from delivering life-saving aid. Thousands of civilians are reported to be trapped in their homes and shelters, where they have completely run out of essential supplies. The situation has reached a critical point, with reports of aid trucks being obstructed, as observed in instances where military checkpoints have blocked the delivery of supplies. In some cases, aid deliveries have been disrupted, with food being forcibly taken by civilians in dire need at holding points before trucks are allowed to proceed. The Israeli government maintains that it has made extensive humanitarian efforts, countering claims made by Oxfam and other organizations regarding the lack of aid distribution. Authorities argue that more than 2,100 aid trucks entered parts of northern Gaza, including food, water, and medical supplies. However, these claims contradict the statistics reported by Oxfam, raising questions about the effectiveness and actual implementation of these humanitarian efforts in the context of the ongoing military operations in the region. Various international bodies, including the UN General Assembly, have begun to scrutinize Israel's obligations towards Palestinian civilians amidst this humanitarian disaster. Human Rights Watch has emphasized the systematic efforts by Israeli authorities that likely led to the deprivation of critical water resources for Gazans. These conditions have been linked to thousands of deaths resulting from starvation and lack of adequate medical care. As the conflict continues, the urgent need for transparent humanitarian access becomes increasingly critical, and the international community is watching closely as the situation unfolds.