A fragile calm has settled over the Gaza Strip one week into a ceasefire agreement. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Aid agencies report that supplies are critically low. This is especially true in the northern parts of the territory. The United Nations (UN) and other organisations are calling for more access, urging Israel to open more crossings to ease the famine conditions.
Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to the deal. The group has explained delays in returning the bodies of all hostages. It cited “enormous difficulties” in locating remains. Many are buried under rubble from two years of Israeli bombardment. The scale of destruction has made search efforts extremely difficult.
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Aid trickles in but falls short
Humanitarian groups are struggling to deliver sufficient aid. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has increased food assistance. It has brought in an average of 560 tonnes of food each day since the truce began. However, this is still below the required amount to tackle the crisis.
Damaged roads and the continued closure of key northern crossings are major obstacles. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) highlighted the desperate shortage of medical care. Hospitals in the north are barely functioning. This leaves many civilians without access to basic health services. The ongoing delays threaten to undermine the progress of the ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump, who helped broker the agreement, issued a warning to Hamas. He stated that if the group continues violence, there would be consequences. Mr Trump’s plan requires Hamas to disarm. It also calls for an international force to stabilise the territory. However, the ceasefire has been tested by internal violence as Hamas clashes with rival groups to assert its dominance in Gaza.
Image: Hamas militants stand guard in Gaza on Wednesday. [Credit: Abood Abusalama/AFP via Getty Images]
