Israeli officials reported the largest influx of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza on Tuesday since Oct 7.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), that a total of 468 trucks entered the Strip on Tuesday.
“Israel is surging aid into Gaza, with over 1200 trucks entering in 3 days (avg 400/day),” COGAT tweeted. “Right now, 500 trucks worth lying on the Gaza side of [Kerem Shalom] waiting to be picked up by UN agencies.”
The tweet added, “@UN, Do your job, focus on distribution, and stop blaming Israel for your colossal failures.”
COGAT, a division operating within the Israeli Defense Ministry, oversees civilian matters in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, facilitating coordination among the government, military, international organizations, and the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli officials refuted allegations that security inspections were causing delays in the delivery of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine.
David Mencer, a spokesperson for Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate, On Tuesday stated, “Yesterday alone, enough food went into Gaza to feed every single person there. The U.N. fails to distribute it and Hamas steals it.”
Hamas recently reduced food prices. According to Gaza residents who spoke to The Press Service of Israel the issue lies not in a scarcity of food but rather in families lacking the funds to purchase it.
The passage of aid deliveries in Israel sparks controversy. Food, water, and fuel deliveries are frequently stolen by Hamas upon arrival in the Strip. Israeli authorities have sidelined UNRWA, the embattled UN Relief and Works Agency, from distributing essential supplies due to concerns over its staff’s ties to Hamas. Recent revelations have indicated that many UNRWA staff members, including some involved in the Oct 7 attacks, are members of Hamas.
At Israeli protests against humanitarian food supplies, the phrase “Don’t feed Hamas” is frequently heard. The families of hostages have also urged the government to use the aid to obtain information, access, and the release of their loved ones who are in captive.
On Oct 7, Hamas attacked Israeli communities close to the Gaza border, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of 240 Israelis and foreigners. Israel has declared 31 hostages out of the remaining 134 to be dead.