Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza as Aid Delivery Falls Short and Israel Halts Aid

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening, with only 75% of the needed aid trucks entering during the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, according to Selame Maruf, head of the Palestinian Government Press Office in Gaza. The region requires 200,000 tents, but less than half that amount has been provided. Only 15 of the 60,000 needed container homes have been allocated for shelter. The shortages extend beyond tents and temporary housing to include essential items like generators, batteries, solar energy systems, and heavy equipment. Maruf stated that Gaza needs 500 mechanisms for aid and reconstruction, but only nine bulldozers have arrived since the ceasefire began. Israel's Prime Minister's Office announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to halt all humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This decision was made after the 42-day first phase of the agreement ended and Hamas did not accept the draft proposed by Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Representative for the Middle East, regarding continued negotiations accepted by Israel. Israel has threatened not to continue the ceasefire without the release of captives. Hamas has strongly condemned Israel's decision to halt aid, calling it a war crime and a blow to the ceasefire agreement.