Israel says it is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to put UN convoys in Gaza following weeks of international pressure and a growing hunger crisis.
In a statement on Saturday, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said that a humanitarian aid air droplet has granted a resume. The initial consisted of seven pallets of flour, sugar and canned food provided by international organizations.
The announcement comes amid a massive hunger warning months after Israel was asked to provide more assistance to Gaza and the supply of 2 million people on the territory was limited.
Israel has denied what it called “a false claim of intentional starvation in the Gaza Strip.”
The IDF said it has “began a series of actions aimed at improving the humanitarian response of the Gaza Strip,” and said it is “ready to implement a humanitarian moratorium on densely populated areas.”
He also said it has resumed supply capacity to Gaza's desalination plants, and that it will “serve approximately 900,000 residents.”
Reuters reported late Saturday that Palestinian sources had confirmed they had reopened in northern Gaza.
Israel shut down all supplies to Gaza from the beginning of March and resumed new restrictions in May.
Together with the United States, they supported the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and allowed them to operate in Gaza.
Since the GHF began operations in late May, there have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while seeking assistance. Witnesses say the BBC was shot dead by Israeli forces. Israel said the troops fired warning shots and challenged the reported death toll. It accuses Hamas of instigating chaos near the aid point.
The United Nations, aid groups and some Israeli allies said the Hamas-run health ministry has seen dozens of people dying of malnutrition. On Saturday, it set a toll for 125 people over the past few days, including 85 children.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the crisis as “a massive artificial hunger.”
In a statement, the IDF said the responsibility for food distribution to Gaza's population ” lies with the United Nations and international aid organizations,” adding that it is necessary to “prevent aid from reaching Hamas.”
Israel's apparent concessions on Saturday followed the UK-backed Jordan and Arab Emirates' plans to accept aid to Gaza. However, the aid agencies said they would do little to reduce hunger in Gazan.
Philip Lazarini, head of the UNRWA Palestinian refugee agency, said that drops of air are “expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians.”
Lazarini said his organization “equivalent to 6,000 trucks” waiting for his organization to enter Gaza in Jordan and Egypt, and told Israel “it lifted the siege, opened the gates, ensured safe movements and ensured dignified access to those in need.”
The BBC spoke with some Gazans on Saturday.
One man who lives north of the Strip said every day in the Middle East BBC Arabic's Middle East that the process “isn't safe” and “caused many tragedy” when similar relief efforts were attempted last year.
“If aid is dropped out of the air, it risks landing directly in the tent and can cause serious harm, including injuries and death,” he said.
Meanwhile, Palestinians are fighting dehydration along with starvation. One mother told the BBC that she “lives without food, drinks, food, bread, water, and water.”
Israel launched a war in Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel, led by Hamas, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
More than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to Hamaslan Health Ministry.