No aid has reached Palestinians in Gaza yet, despite Israeli claim of delivery
Palestinians attempt to collect water at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City on 20 May 2025
Ahmed Aziz in Khan Younis reports in Middle East Eye on May 2025:
No aid has reached Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip as of Wednesday, despite Israeli claims that dozens of trucks have entered. Since 2 March, Israel has enforced a total blockade on Gaza, preventing any food, medical supplies, or goods from entering the besieged enclave.
On Sunday, Israel stated it would allow a “basic amount of food” into Gaza for what it described as “diplomatic reasons” aimed at easing international pressure that could force an end to the ongoing war. The Israeli military claimed that over 90 aid lorries have entered the strip this week.
However, sources inside Gaza told Middle East Eye trucks remain stalled on the Palestinian side of the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. Aid organisations confirmed that no humanitarian relief has been distributed.
“No aid has entered the Gaza Strip since 2 March,” said Nahed Shuhibar, head of Gaza’s Private Transport Association, in an interview with Alaraby TV. “Aid lorries are still stuck at the Karem Abu Salem crossing.”
UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna confirmed that while thousands of aid lorries are queued at the crossing, none have entered storage facilities or reached those in need inside Gaza. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the delay is complicated by Israeli requirements, which involves offloading supplies on the Palestinian side and reloading them separately once UN access from within Gaza is secured.
Palestinians across Gaza are experiencing worsening conditions and say the promises of aid are nothing more than media illusions.
Barham Zarroub, a resident of Gaza, expressed skepticism over the reports. “They said trucks would enter, supposedly bringing aid into the Gaza Strip. But not a single truck made it into Gaza. We didn’t see anything in the institutions, or even inside Gaza itself, that indicated any deliveries,” he told MEE. Even if some aid were to arrive, he added, “it wouldn’t cover even 2 percent of the population” based on the number of trucks set to enter. “That means only a few families might receive something, and many people might not get anything at all,” Zarroub said.