Gaza City: The World Health Organization has issued a warning that malnutrition in Gaza has reached "alarming levels," with rates on a "dangerous trajectory," coinciding with the resumption of aid airdrops in the region.
According to BBC, Jordan, in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates, successfully airdropped 25 tonnes of aid into Gaza on Sunday. This action followed Israel's declaration of a "tactical pause" in its military operations, stating that it would cease activities for 10 hours each day in certain parts of Gaza to facilitate aid convoys. Israel's move is intended to counter accusations of "intentional starvation," a claim Hamas has labeled as an attempt to "whitewash its image."
On Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported delivering seven packages of aid, which included flour, sugar, and canned food. Concurrently, medics reported casualties, with nine killed and 54 injured by Israeli fire near a central Gaza aid convoy route. An airstrike also struck a residential building shortly after the pause began on Saturday.
Local sources informed the BBC about the shooting of nine individuals in the Netzarim Corridor along Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza, where many civilians were gathered, hoping for UN aid convoys. The IDF claimed its troops "fired warning shots" at a "gathering of suspects" approaching them, denying knowledge of any casualties.
BBC Verify confirmed an airstrike at Midhat Al-Wahidy Street in the Al-Rimal district of western Gaza City, an area Israel had previously designated for a temporary cessation of operations. The verification was based on eyewitness accounts and two geolocated videos released on Sunday. The IDF stated it was unaware of a strike after checking the coordinates.
The UN's World Food Programme reported that one-third of Gaza's two-million population occasionally goes without food for several days, with one in four enduring "famine-like conditions." The Hamas-run health ministry reported over 100 deaths due to malnutrition in recent days.
The ministry also reported hundreds killed while attempting to collect food from distribution points managed by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a claim Israel denies, asserting it does not target civilians.
US President Donald Trump expressed his intention to send more aid to Gaza, emphasizing the issue's international scope. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged that while air drops would alleviate some suffering, sustainable aid delivery requires viable land routes.
Gaza residents expressed cautious optimism about the temporary humanitarian pause. Rasha Al-Sheikh Khalil, a mother of four, shared her mixed feelings of hope and concern about the continuation of starvation after the pause. Neveen Saleh, a mother of six, highlighted the scarcity of fresh produce, saying her family subsists on expired canned foods and flour.
Imad Kudaya, a journalist in southern Gaza, noted the challenges of accessing air drop packages, which often land in demilitarized zones under Israeli control, posing significant risks to those attempting to retrieve them.
Despite the ceasefire talks, Israel's conflict with Hamas persists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue the fight until achieving "complete victory," while Hamas's exiled head in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, dismissed ceasefire negotiations as "meaningless" under the ongoing blockade and starvation.
On Sunday, the UN's World Food Programme welcomed Israel's latest actions but called for a "surge" in aid to promptly reach those in need. Unicef echoed the need for more humanitarian corridors.
Netanyahu defended his government against UN criticisms, asserting that secure routes have always existed, emphasizing their official status under the new measures. Israel announced plans to suspend fighting in three populated Gaza areas for 10 hours daily and open secure routes for aid delivery. The IDF stated these corridors would enable the UN and other organizations to deliver essential supplies to Gaza.
The conflict began after Israel launched a military response to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Since then, over 59,000 people have died in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run ministry.
