Gaza-bound humanitarian aid, turned back by "Israel" on Sunday, remained stranded atop trucks and trailers near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Aid workers and drivers expressed frustration at mounting delays that are preventing critical medical and food supplies from reaching the besieged enclave.

Boxes bearing the World Health Organization (WHO) logo and labels for wound-care supplies were among those parked near the Egyptian-Gazan border. A WHO employee at the scene told Reuters that some aid was rejected due to what Israeli forces said was "illegal medicines" in the cargo.

"Israel’s" military authority, responsible for coordinating aid, did not respond to questions from Reuters regarding the specific reasons behind the rejection.

Seven aid officials and three Egyptian truck drivers described a range of bureaucratic obstacles: minor packaging issues, inadequate paperwork, and lengthy inspections for potential dual-use items. The Karem Abu Salem crossing, controlled by "Israel", is only open during limited weekday hours, which further complicates deliveries.

Kamel Atteiya Mohamed, an Egyptian truck driver, noted that out of the 200 to 300 trucks attempting to pass each day, only 30 to 50 succeed. “They tell you the pallet is tilted or missing a sticker, that’s not a reason to reject a truck,” he said.

Since July 27, when "Israel" announced a plan to ease aid restrictions, only a fraction of the expected supplies have entered Gaza.

Gaza's media office stated that 1,334 trucks had crossed into the enclave since then, far below the 9,000 that would have been delivered had 600 trucks entered daily, a figure the United Nations says is the minimum needed to sustain Gaza’s population.

Humanitarian toll in Palestine

The United Nations and other aid agencies continue to report severe shortages in food, medicine, and shelter materials. UNRWA, the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has not been permitted to send aid into Gaza since March. Meanwhile, the WHO confirmed that humanitarian clearances that once took days now stretch to over a month.

Read more: 'Deadly scheme': Gaza civilians at aid sites met with random gunfire

Over 200 Palestinians have died of malnutrition or starvation since the war began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while the total death toll has surpassed 61,000. Israeli authorities dispute these numbers, claiming they are inflated and include militants, but international human rights experts say the figures are likely an undercount.

Near El Arish in Egypt, a Red Crescent warehouse is storing aid shipments rejected at the border, including oxygen tanks, first-aid kits, and generators from aid groups in Kuwait and Luxembourg. Aid workers said rejections like these are becoming routine.

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Only 73 of the 400 trucks sent by the World Food Programme since July 27 have made it into Gaza, a staffer told members of The Elders, a group of former world leaders that visited the border to observe the situation.

Read more: Trump to 'take over' Gaza aid effort, citing Israeli inadequacy: Axios

Spain signals support for UN-led Gaza mission

Spain has endorsed a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron for a UN-mandated international coalition to stabilize Gaza. The mission would aim to protect civilians, ensure the flow of aid, and support the transition toward Palestinian governance.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry said the mission could help achieve peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East. “This force must be a step towards building the two-state solution,” it stated, reiterating Spain's support for Palestinian statehood.

The endorsement builds on recent diplomatic momentum following Spain’s recognition of Palestine, a move joined by several other EU countries. Macron's initiative aligns with France's growing push for international action amid rising criticism of "Israel’s" conduct in Gaza.

Australia, on August 11, noted that it will also move forward with recognizing a Palestinian state, highlighting the growing concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the prime reason for the decision.

Australian politicians also voiced condemnation over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new Gaza invasion scheme.

On August 8, "Israel’s" security cabinet approved an expanded military operation targeting Gaza City, prompting further condemnation from international observers and increasing pressure for a diplomatic resolution.

Read more: 'Israel' approves largest reservist mobilization to expand Gaza war

Performative humanitarian support

Aid drops have been illustrated as a form of support by Western and Arab states in an attempt to break the siege on Gaza. However, the Gaza Ministry of Interior and National Security condemned the actions as performative, dubbing them a tool of manipulation rather than genuine support. 

Canadian aid continues to enter Gaza.

We are doing everything possible to ensure that essential aid is being delivered to Palestinians who so desperately need it. We continue to call on the Government of Israel to unblock land access completely so that aid can flow uninhibited.… pic.twitter.com/QOl4KkAWOr

— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) August 13, 2025

"Israel" has been known to use these air-dropped humanitarian support packages, as well as the trucks allowed to enter the Gaza Strip, to sow chaos among the starved population by sending gangs to loot and target those seeking aid.

Rights adovcates and humanitarian experts stated that these measures are deceptive and insufficient as the relief is a means to temporarily mask the ongoing siege and bombing of Gaza. 

Claimed recognition of Palestinian statehood has also been slammed as a performative act, as many continue to support "Israel" despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza.