US highlights Gaza aid surge; Palestinians allege ‘engineered starvation’

White House says astir 700 assistance trucks entering war-battered Gaza each day, a fig disputed by Palestinians and assistance groups.

The White House says astir 15,000 trucks carrying commercialized goods and humanitarian assistance person entered Gaza since October 10, but Palestinians and assistance groups person sharply disputed the figures.

White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson told Al Jazeera connected Sunday an mean of 674 trucks person entered Gaza regular since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect.

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Humanitarian workers “have reached much than 1 cardinal radical with household nutrient parcels since October 10”, portion repast accumulation successful Gaza has accrued 82 percent since precocious September, helium said.

“Eggs appeared connected shelves successful Gaza for the archetypal clip since February” erstwhile Israel began a full blockade of each humanitarian assistance into the besieged Strip, Johnson said.

The US figures could not beryllium independently verified.

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), lone fractional the required nutrient assistance is presently reaching Gaza, portion a conjugation of Palestinian alleviation agencies said full assistance deliveries amounted to conscionable one-quarter of what was agreed nether the ceasefire deal.

“The United States is starring a historical effort to code the captious needs of Gazans close now,” Johnson said, insisting the medication of US President Donald Trump is committed to treating Palestinians “with dignity and respect”.

‘Engineered starvation’

Despite US claims, conditions connected the crushed stay dire. Gaza’s Government Media Office said connected Thursday since the commencement of the ceasefire lone 28 percent of the agreed-upon fig of assistance trucks person been allowed to participate – totalling 4,453 vehicles, acold beneath the promised 15,600 – amounting to 171 trucks per day.

“These constricted quantities autumn acold beneath the minimum humanitarian threshold,” the bureau said, calling for the contiguous introduction of astatine slightest 600 trucks regular to supply indispensable supplies specified arsenic food, medicine, fuel, and cooking gas.

The media bureau besides accused Israel of “engineered starvation” saying Israeli authorities person banned much than 350 basal nutrient items – including eggs, meat, cheese, vegetables, and nutritional supplements – portion permitting low-value products specified arsenic brushed drinks, chocolate, and crisps sold astatine inflated prices.

“This proves that the concern is deliberately implementing a argumentation of nutrient manipulation arsenic a limb against civilians,” a property bureau connection said.

‘Only the beginning’

Johnson, however, promoted US-led assistance efforts saying “17,000 cubic metres [4.5 cardinal gallons] of drinking h2o has been delivered daily, expanding drinking h2o successful bluish Gaza by 130 percent successful October alone”.

“There has been large progress, but determination is inactive overmuch to do. This is lone the beginning,” helium said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted improvements successful confederate Gaza since the truce, with families eating 2 meals a time compared to 1 successful July. However, it said nutrient information successful bluish Gaza has remained successful catastrophic condition.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said connected Friday portion humanitarian entree has improved, “people’s urgent needs are inactive immense” with assistance convoys restricted to conscionable 2 Israeli crossings.

The WFP reiterated its request that each entree points beryllium opened to flood Gaza with nutrient and aesculapian aid, noting nary mentation has been provided for the continued closure of bluish crossings.