Israel let only 23 of UAE's 103 food trucks to Gaza, 22 get looted as IDF turns a blind eye

Aid trucks that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent to Gaza were looted by unidentified groups in zones directly under the control of the Israel Defence Force (IDF). The incident was flagged by the UAE not long after a report claimed that Israeli airstrikes killed at least six Palestinians guarding aid trucks against such looters.

 

 

 

 

The Arab nation had dispatched over a hundred aid trucks to load bakeries in the war-deprived Gaza Strip which operate like community kitchens. The items carried by the looted trucks consisted of flour, cooking gas, oil, salt, sugar, and similar items needed for food processing in eateries, the Khaleej Times said.

 

However, Israel is blamed for more than simply turning a blind eye to the theft. While the UAE had sent a total of 103 trucks full of supplies to the Strip, only 24 of them were allowed entry by the IDF. 23 of them failed to reach their destination following the incident and only one could donate to the warehouse where raw materials were collected, the Khaleej Times said quoting an official statement. If all trucks were allowed entry, it was certain that at least half of them would have reached the delivery zone -- ensuring relief to more people. One truckload of relief materials is a drop in the ocean as things stand. 

 

Blaming the Israeli soldiers on the ground for the development, the statement said: "This was due to the Israeli army's insistence on imposing unsafe crossing routes". UAE sent 103 trucks to feed Gazans after a few successfully made it to the relief zones last Wednesday. According to Tel Aviv, 305 aid trucks carrying flour and medical supplies have entered the Gaza Strip from the Kerem Shalom crossing point since Monday when the blockade was relaxed. UN figures claim at least 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed every day to feed the hungry Palestinians in the region. 

 

Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas militants' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people by Israeli tallies and saw 251 hostages abducted into Gaza. The IDF offensive has since killed more than 53,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip. Aid groups say signs of severe malnutrition are widespread.

 

As a consequence of the war, over 66,000 children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition, with many at risk of death from starvation. As per the latest reports, about 1.1 million people, which is half of Gaza's population, are facing food insecurity and over 20% of households go entire days without food.

Middle East