UN says Israel denied 30% of aid missions to northern Gaza in March
Israeli authorities denied 30% of humanitarian aid missions to northern Gaza and 10% of missions into southern Gaza in March, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Friday.
Israel Defense Forces soldiers "too often delay or deny convoys from crossing checkpoints, with rejected requests for safe passage, searches, detentions and sometimes violence against aid convoys and awaiting crowds,” OCHA said.
The aid missions included food distributions, fuel deliveries, emergency medical teams movement, delivery of supplies to hospitals, and support for water, sanitation and hygiene activities, according to the UN agency.
Since March 1, 29 out of 60 aid missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by the Israeli authorities, with 18 denied, and 13 postponed or withdrawn, OCHA said.
CNN is reaching out to the relevant Israeli authorities for comment.
Some context: The UN and other agencies have consistently said not enough aid is reaching Gaza, prompting warnings of a looming famine.
Israel has said there is "no limit" to the amount of aid that can be brought into Gaza, but land entry points are limited and inspections are strict. CNN has documented the ways in which Israel throttles aid to the enclave.
Some international powers have sought other means of bringing in vital aid to Gaza, opening maritime routes or carrying out air drops. But both are seen as not enough to meet the needs of those living in Gaza.
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