First trucks with UN humanitarian aid enter Gaza

Israel and the United Nations have announced that the first aid trucks have entered Gaza after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade of food, medicine and other supplies, The Associated Press reported.

Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said that after 11 weeks of a complete blockade, Israel has allowed nine aid trucks to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

“However, this is a drop in the ocean, given the current needs, significantly more aid should be allowed into Gaza starting tomorrow morning,” Fletcher said in a statement, calling the move a “welcome development.”

Food security experts have recently warned of a famine in Gaza. During the last ceasefire, about 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza daily.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his decision to resume "minimal" aid to Gaza came after allies said they could not support a new Israeli military offensive if there were "scenes of starvation" in the Palestinian territory.