Two fuel trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza on Sunday, according to Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV. The shipment comes months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis marked by severe fuel shortages and starvation. Gaza’s Health Ministry has warned that dwindling fuel supplies have crippled hospital operations, forcing doctors to prioritize only the most critically ill patients. However, there was no immediate confirmation on whether the trucks had successfully crossed into Gaza.
Fuel shipments have been scarce since March, when Israel tightened restrictions on aid in what it described as pressure on Hamas to release hostages taken during its October 2023 attack. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that six more people died of starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total famine-related death toll to 175, including 93 children. Israel denies responsibility for the crisis, blaming Hamas for civilian suffering, but facing mounting international criticism, it recently announced measures to increase aid, including temporary daily pauses in fighting, airdrops, and protected routes for aid convoys.
Despite these efforts, UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and have urged Israel to allow significantly more aid by land. According to COGAT, Israel’s military aid coordination agency, only 35 aid trucks have entered Gaza since June, nearly all in July. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office reported that around 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since late July, but witnesses say many have been looted by desperate civilians and armed groups. Fuel remains critically low—while over 700 fuel trucks entered Gaza during a January-February ceasefire, supplies have sharply declined since Israel resumed its offensive in March.
Meanwhile, violence continues to claim lives across Gaza. Palestinian health authorities reported at least 18 people killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Sunday, including individuals attempting to reach aid distribution points. Among the dead was a Palestinian Red Crescent staff member after an Israeli strike hit their Khan Younis headquarters, igniting a fire. The war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has now claimed over 60,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health officials. As the conflict drags on, the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire, with aid access remaining a critical point of contention.
