A key port has not been opened to aid shipments, and a new crossing into northern Gaza has officially opened but UN agencies are not yet allowed to use it, even though they provide the vast majority of food aid for the territory. The reported increase in the number of trucks crossing into Gaza claimed by Israel also conflicts with UN records and already appears to be faltering.
"There is a lot less than meets the eye so far," said Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior official in the Biden administration who is now president of the Refugees International aid advocacy organisation. "Very little has actually changed."
Israel denies that famine is stalking Gaza, and has for months blamed lack of food, medicine and other basic supplies on Hamas stealing from civilians, or poor logistics by humanitarian groups. But it is under increasing pressure from allies, particularly the US, over the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
On Thursday, the defence minister, Yoav Gallant, promised to "flood Gaza with aid", comments that underlined the country's control of what goes into the strip. Humanitarians have been calling for a "flood of aid" to stave off starvation for weeks.
"It is very clear who is responsible for the siege," said Juliette Touma of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, which provides most of the food aid into Gaza. "The siege was imposed by the Israeli authorities. It is a political decision, so it can be reversed by another political decision." One of Netanyahu's pledges to Biden, to open the Ashdod port north of Gaza as a portal to seaborne humanitarian aid, has led to no action yet, according to Israel's coordinator of government activities in the territories (Cogat).
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wall of online rage should not obscure beauty and ugliness
While the authorities have undermined fans’ trust, the truth is at risk of being buried under a mound of tinfoil hats
Surrey worthy winners as Championship takes eye
Nestled within a season of Test triumphs for England, it was atop-of-the-table county clash that truly stole the show
Strike it rich Footballers must find a moral compass before embarking on a journey of unity
IT he distant strains of The Internationale can be heard on the approach to the Etihad Stadium.
Sri Lanka President pledges 'era of renaissance as leftists come in from the cold
As he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new president yesterday morning, Anura Kumara Dissanayake heralded a \"new era of renaissance\" for the country.
Man reunited with lost family 73 years after he was abducted as a child
A man who was abducted as a sixyear-old while playing in a California park in 1951 has been found more than seven decades later thanks to the help of an online ancestry test, old photos and newspaper clippings.
Veteran activist Fonda issues rallying call to young voters
Young people's unhappiness with the Biden administration's record on oil and gas drilling and the war in Gaza should not deter them from voting to block Donald Trump from the US presidency, the Hollywood actor and activist Jane Fonda has urged.
Ex-partner of Pelicot co-accused fears she was raped
The former partner of a co-defendant in a mass rape trial that has prompted horror and protests in France has broken down in tears and told the court she may herself have been sexually assaulted.
Meloni to be presented with thinktank's global citizen award by Musk
Giorgia Meloni is to be presented with the Atlantic Council's global citizen award by Elon Musk in New York, as the Italian far-right prime minister resurrects links with allies of Donald Trump before the US presidential election.
French interior minister is sign 'reactionary right' are in power, critics warn
The new French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has promised to \"restore order\" by cracking down on crime and immigration as critics on the left said the new government was leaning too far towards the \"reactionary right\".
Show puts creator of first UK Holocaust memorial in the spotlight
The work of an overlooked GermanJewish artist who created the UK's first memorial to victims of Nazi persecution is to be the focus of an exhibition that shines light on the unreported aspects of his life.