Corpses Instead of Food: Israel Exploits Truce to Intensify Humanitarian Siege

Lebanon Today

Despite the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip taking effect since October 10th, Israel continues to practice a policy of starvation and prevent humanitarian aid from reaching the Strip, according to a correspondent for “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath” today, Saturday.

The correspondent confirmed that Israeli forces are still preventing the entry of approximately 600 aid trucks daily into the Strip, which is the number agreed upon under the agreement mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

He pointed out that Israel is still preventing the entry of chicken, meat, and fresh food, and is only allowing the entry of canned goods and some ready-made foods such as “noodles”.

In a related context, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (“UNRWA”) announced that Israel has prevented the entry of trucks carrying shelter materials and winter supplies for displaced families in the Strip. In a statement, it affirmed that the need is increasing to provide shelter and warmth with the approach of winter, noting that the relief materials in UNRWA’s warehouses in Jordan and Egypt are still prohibited from entering Gaza.

For his part, U.S. Secretary of State “Marco Rubio” accused the international organization during a press conference held at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in the “Kiryat Gat” settlement south of Tel Aviv, of being affiliated with Hamas, announcing that “UNRWA will not play any role in Gaza,” and that there are between 8 and 10 relief organizations that will take over work in the Strip.

In parallel with the humanitarian crisis, Israel accused Hamas of stalling in handing over the bodies of the remaining 13 prisoners. The “Yedioth Ahronoth” newspaper quoted an Israeli official as saying that “Hamas is holding the bodies of eight hostages who died, and does not know the whereabouts of five others,” considering that the movement is maneuvering in order to extend the ceasefire and avoid the second phase of the agreement, which requires it to disarm.

According to the plan of U.S. President “Donald Trump,” Hamas has handed over the remains of 15 Israeli prisoners since the ceasefire took effect, on the condition that Israel hands over 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli body handed over.

In return, Hamas affirmed that the process of extracting the bodies is complicated and takes time due to the massive destruction left by the two-year war, noting that some areas where search operations are taking place are still dangerous and unprepared for entry.