After the overnight killing of dozens of Palestinians by Israeli bombardment, 20 trucks carrying aid \u2014 the first convoy of humanitarian supplies since Israel began a devastating siege 12 days ago \u2014 entered Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Saturday. Meanwhile, UN agencies have called for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access for aid throughout Gaza. \u201cWe call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian acc\u00adess throughout Gaza to allow hum\u00adanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering,\u201d the joint statement from the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO said. \u201cFlows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.\u201d The flatbed trucks, flying white flags and honking their horns, exited the crossing after checks and headed into Gaza\u2019s southern area, which includes the major towns of Rafah and Khan Yunis, where hundreds of thousands of people made homeless by Israel\u2019s unrelenting air war are sheltering. However, Palestinians appeared disappointed with the item provided, as they did not include essential fuel supplies to power generators and emergency vehicles. \u201cExcluding the fuel from the humanitarian aid means the lives of patients and injured will remain at risk. Gaza hospitals requirements to pursue medical interventions,\u201d the Gaza health ministry said. The United Nations said the convoy carrying life-saving supplies would be received and distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent. But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while welcoming the opening, echoed a warning from Israel that no aid should end up in Hamas hands. \u201cWe urge all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza,\u201d he stated. \u201cWe have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance.\u201d The Israeli military earlier announced that humanitarian aid entering Gaza would go to southern areas only, making it clear that there is \u201cno fuel going in\u201d. Meanwhile, Israel kept up heavy bombardment of targets throughout Gaza in Saturday\u2019s early hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to \u201cfight until victory\u201d. Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin \u201csoon\u201d. On Saturday Gaza\u2019s health ministry said Israel\u2019s air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,385 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, while over a million of the besieged territory\u2019s people have been displaced. Almost half of Gaza\u2019s residents have been displaced, and at least 30pc of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the UN says. \u2018Drop in the ocean\u2019 Most of Gaza\u2019s inhabitants depend on humanitarian aid. The heavily urbanised and widely impoverished territory has been under Israeli and Egyptian blockade since 2005. Israel has told all Palestinians to evacuate the northern half of Gaza, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave, saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go given that southern areas have also been bombarded. Some said the aid arriving on Saturday was too little to make a difference. \u201cThis is a drop in the ocean. You are trying to show the world that you are bringing aid. This is throwing dust in the eyes,\u201d said Nabil El-Dhaba, a resident of the Shejaia district in Gaza City who has been displaced to Deir Al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. Terrified Palestinians who were forced to evacuate their homes after Israel\u2019s deadly overnight bombings lashed out at the reports of aid trucks about to enter Gaza, saying it was a ceasefire and not food that they needed. \u201cThey were asleep when the missile was dropped on them, innocent children, their father, their grandfather, what did they do? Did they fire rockets? Carried bullets? They are innocent children who did nothing!\u201d cried one tearful woman. \u201cWe have been fighting and the Arab nations are just watching. Canned food, is that the price of the Palestinian people who are offering sacrifices everywhere?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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