US boasts of aid affluence, aid groups refute, Palestinians call it engineered starvation

Humanitarian and Palestinian aid groups have asserted that only a quarter of the promised aid, including food and medicine, has so far reached Gaza since the ceasefire agreement, refuting the United States’ claim that the Strip is now filled with an abundance of relief supplies, with nearly 15,000 trucks said to have entered.

Gaza’s Government Media Office, however, reported that only 4,453 vehicles have crossed since the truce began, far below the agreed 15,600, averaging 171 trucks per day, and termed the situation an instance of “engineered starvation” by Israel.

The White House maintained that the aid operation has made significant progress, stating that meal production and the availability of basic commodities have increased substantially since October, with humanitarian workers reportedly reaching over a million people and the water supply seeing notable improvements.

It also emphasised that the administration of US President Donald Trump is leading a large-scale humanitarian initiative to address the critical needs of Gaza’s population.

Contrary to these claims, Palestinian relief agencies and international organisations have painted a grim picture of the situation on the ground, saying that the amount of aid entering Gaza remains well below humanitarian standards.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said only half the required food assistance is being delivered, while the coalition of local agencies reported that just one-quarter of the aid stipulated under the ceasefire deal has materialised.

Gaza’s Government Media Office underscored that the limited inflow falls drastically short of the minimum threshold needed to sustain life, demanding the immediate entry of at least 600 trucks per day carrying essential supplies such as food, medicine, fuel, and cooking gas.

The media office further accused Israel of deliberately restricting the entry of vital commodities, alleging that more than 350 essential food items, including eggs, meat, cheese, vegetables, and nutritional supplements, have been banned, whereas low-value goods like soft drinks, chocolates, and crisps have been permitted at inflated prices. Such restrictions, it said, reveal a systematic policy of manipulating food supplies as a weapon against civilians.

While US officials described recent developments as a sign of progress, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs observed that improvements have been confined largely to southern Gaza, where families are now able to eat two meals a day compared to one earlier.