Hungry Palestinians in Gaza block and offload dozens of UN food trucks as desperation grows
The UN World Food Programme says the fear of starvation in Gaza is high, seeks to rebuild trust with communities that more food is coming
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have blocked and offloaded dozens of food trucks, the UN World Food Programme has said, as desperation mounts following Israel’s months-long blockade while talks of a ceasefire inch forward.
The WFP on Saturday said 77 trucks carrying aid, mostly flour, were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks could reach their destination.
The nearly three-month Israeli blockade on Gaza has pushed the population of more than 2 million to the brink of famine. While pressure slightly eased in recent days as Israel allowed some aid to enter, aid organisations say far from enough food is getting in.
Hamas on Saturday said it had submitted to mediators its response to a ceasefire proposal presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Palestinian group said in a statement that under the deal, it would release 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel’s release of a number of Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.