'Israel' halts all commercial food imports to Gaza: Reuters
3 Min Read
While COGAT claims it facilitates aid deliveries whenever possible, the Israeli agency did not provide specific answers to Reuters' inquiries regarding the current halt in food imports.
-
Palestinians line up for food distribution in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, October 17, 2024. (AP)
Reuters reported on Thursday that "Israel" has ceased processing requests from Gaza-based traders to import food, further choking off supplies to the besieged Palestinian Strip.
According to sources involved in the trade, this abrupt halt, which began on October 11, has driven food deliveries into Gaza to their lowest level since the start of the ongoing war.
For the past six months, this track had accounted for more than half of Gaza's provisions, with traders importing goods from the occupied territories and the West Bank.
Now, with no response from the Israeli body overseeing shipments, known as COGAT, the flow of goods has come to a near standstill.
Read more: The Guardian unveils twisted Israeli plan for depopulating Gaza
Data analyzed by Reuters shows that the daily average of truck deliveries, which previously stood at 175 between May and September, has dropped to just 29 trucks, including both aid and commercial goods.
Famine in the North
This disruption comes amid intense Israeli aggressions on the north of Gaza, which have obstructed aid deliveries and added further strain to the already dire humanitarian situation.
The United Nations World Food Programme recently warned that aid deliveries through northern crossings have been cut off for at least two weeks this month, heightening fears of famine.
In addition to the suspension of commercial imports, recent customs regulations and restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have further reduced the availability of essential food supplies.
Gaza’s residents are now facing soaring prices, with basic goods like onions costing $15 per kilo, according to multiple local sources.
International alarm has grown as food shortages escalate, prompting the United States to consider withholding military assistance to "Israel" in response.
Read more: Germany increased weapons shipments to 'Israel' since August
Global food security monitors have also issued warnings that the aggression could double the number of people in Gaza facing "catastrophic" hunger.
While COGAT claims it facilitates aid deliveries whenever possible, the agency did not provide specific answers to Reuters' inquiries regarding the current halt in food imports.
Prior to the war, an average of 500 trucks entered Gaza daily, delivering a mix of aid and commercial goods.
Now, the trickle of deliveries, compounded by security challenges, leaves Gaza's 2.3 million residents facing an increasingly desperate situation.
