UN sends 90 aid trucks amid Gaza humanitarian crisis, Israeli siege

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 May 2025 12:03
1 Shares

The UN dispatched 90 aid trucks into Gaza through the Karem Abu Salem crossing as pressure mounts over "Israel's" blockade.

Listen

UN vehicles escort aid trucks carrying food as they arrive at a World Food Program warehouse in Zawaida, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The United Nations announced Wednesday that it had dispatched around 90 aid trucks into Gaza, marking the first significant delivery since the Israeli occupation resumed the war on Gaza and re-imposed the suffocating siege on the territory in early March.

According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the trucks entered Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem crossing, where the UN "collected around 90 truckloads of goods" and transported them into the Strip. The aid is aimed at addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by weeks of near-total isolation imposed by "Israel".

"Israel's" brutal blockade on humanitarian aid has killed hundreds of Gazans, in addition to a sharp rise in miscarriages, the Gaza Government Media Office announced in a statement earlier.

"The Israeli occupation's starvation policy in Gaza has led to the deaths of 326 people due to malnutrition and lack of food and medicine, along with over 300 miscarriages among pregnant women in just 80 days," the office stated.

First major aid delivery since March

The Gaza Government Media Office confirmed the arrival of 87 trucks, noting they were allocated to both international and local organizations to respond to urgent humanitarian needs. The delivery follows "Israel’s" limited reopening of the Karem Abu Salem crossing three days prior, under mounting international scrutiny.

As the aid entered Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after explicitly reaffirming "Israel's" plots to occupy and seize control of Gaza, claimed he was open to a "temporary ceasefire."

"It is necessary to avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve our freedom of operational action," Netanyahu said.

Despite the aid entry, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that the bodies of 82 martyrs were taken to hospitals in the last 24 hours amid ongoing bombardment. Palestinians continue to face critical shortages in food, water, and medicine.

Humanitarian groups have stressed that the scale of aid entering Gaza is far from sufficient to meet the growing needs. The recent shipment falls short of the massive scale required to relieve the pressure on Gaza's civilian population.

Controversy surrounds Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

Separately, the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced it will begin moving aid into Gaza "in the coming days" using private contractors. However, the UN and other established humanitarian agencies have refused to cooperate with the foundation due to its close alignment with "Israel".

The GHF stated it aims to distribute approximately 300 million meals within its first 90 days of operation.

"This particular distribution plan does not accord with our basic principles," said Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq during a press briefing. "We will not be participating in this."