WHO calls for medical aid trucks to be allowed into Gaza

A senior World Health Organization official on Monday condemned the fact that none of the agency's trucks with medical aid were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip since the end of the blockade by Israel.

Humanitarian aid has begun to penetrate Palestinian territory again in recent days, after more than two months of blocked access.

But, for more than 11 weeks, "there has not been a single WHO truck that has entered Gaza for medical care support," the WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, said during a press conference in Geneva.

"The situation is devastating. Not only are we concerned about the work we are supporting, and we wish and hope to continue to support the people, but we are extremely concerned about the consequences of this," she said, citing the impact on generations to come.

Israel has intensified a new offensive to destroy the militant group Hamas - declared a terrorist organization by the US and the EU - prompting international condemnation for the blockade that began in March and has caused severe food and medical shortages.

"About 400 trucks have received the green light to enter Gaza... but supplies from only 115 trucks have managed to get through – and nothing has reached the besieged north," Balkhhy said, adding that none of them were from the WHO.

She said 51 trucks with medical equipment were waiting to cross the border.

Ahmed Zouiten, the WHO's regional emergency director, said he hoped it was only a matter of time before UN health agency trucks could enter the territory.

But, he said it was "too early for us to know" if they would move on soon or if there were "issues that we need to pursue further".

Israel's new offensive has sparked international criticism, with European and Arab leaders meeting in Spain to demand an end to the "inhumane" and "senseless" war, while humanitarian groups say this small amount of aid is far from enough.

Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP calculation based on official figures.

The militants also took 251 hostages, of which 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli army says are dead.

On Monday, the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 3,822 people have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, bringing the total number of casualties of the war to 53,977, mostly civilians./REL