Washington: Trucks carrying relief supplies reached the troubled area for the first time on Friday through a floating pier recently built by the US in the war-torn Gaza Strip. Israel has imposed restrictions on the land border amid the ongoing fierce war in Gaza, due to which the supply of food and other essential goods to the people was disrupted. US military officials estimate that 150 trucks a day can be transported to the Gaza Strip through this port.
Israel intensified the fight
Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its seven-month-long war against Hamas in the southern city of Rafah. America and aid groups also cautioned that this port project cannot be considered an alternative to delivering supplies by land route. He says that essential food, water and fuel can be delivered to Gaza only through land route. Before the war, on average more than 500 trucks entered Gaza every day.
Hamas attacked
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza after the attack by Hamas that entered Israel on October 7 last year. Due to this, there is shortage of fuel, terrorist attacks, strategic obstacles to operate trucks. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and in this attack 1,200 people were killed and 250 people were taken hostage. In response to this attack, Israel also attacked Hamas in Gaza.
Famine like situation in Gaza
Local health officials say more than 35,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israeli attacks. Aid agencies say food supplies are running out in southern Gaza and fuel reserves are rapidly depleting, while the US Agency for International Development and the World Food Program say famine is already at risk in Gaza’s north. The situation has arisen.
entirely human effort
Troops completed setting up floating moorings on Thursday and the US military’s Central Command said the initial aid arrived in Gaza at 9am on Friday. It said no US troops went ashore in the operation. “This is an ongoing, multinational effort to deliver additional assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through the sea corridor that is entirely humanitarian, and will include aid items donated by a number of countries and humanitarian organizations,” the command said. ”
dire need of fuel
The Pentagon (US Defense Ministry) said that no assistance is expected from its side in the delivery process. It is being coordinated by the United Nations. “We are in desperate need of fuel,” said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. It does not matter whether the relief material is coming by sea or by land, but without fuel it will not reach the people.
Israel will not stop humanitarian aid
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that America raises the issue of fuel in every conversation with Israel. Israel fears that the fuel could be used by Hamas in the fight but has said that it will not impose any restrictions on humanitarian aid. Israel has blamed the United Nations for the delay in the delivery of materials reaching Gaza. Under US pressure, Israel last week opened two routes to deliver humanitarian aid to the troubled northern part of Gaza.
Safety of employees at risk
American officials said that the initial supply will be 500 tons of relief material. The US is coordinating with Israel to protect the ship and people working on the shore. Sonali Korde, assistant administrator of USAID’s humanitarian assistance bureau, said there are still questions about the safety of workers distributing food items. (AP)
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