Nine aid trucks allowed to enter Gaza, ‘a drop in ocean’ of needs: UN

UNITED NATIONS, United States: Nine aid trucks were authorised to enter Gaza on Monday, the United Nations said, describing the first humanitarian deliveries since Israel partially lifted its blockade as “a drop in the ocean” of what is needed.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher welcomed the move, but said Israeli authorities were only allowing in limited aid after 11 weeks of completely blockading the war-torn enclave.

“Today, nine of our trucks were cleared to enter, via the Kerem Shalom crossing,” he said in a statement.“Given ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant,” he added.

“The limited quantities of aid now being allowed into Gaza are of course no substitute for unimpeded access to civilians in such dire need.”Israel on Monday said five aid trucks had so far entered Gaza.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Britain, France and Canada on Monday condemned Israel´s “egregious actions” in Gaza, opposed its expanded offensive, and slammed Israeli ministers for threatening the mass displacement of civilians.

“We will not stand by” while the government of Benjamin Netanyahu pursues those actions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a joint statement.

“We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end,” they said.The statement coincided with a joint demand by 22 countries -- including Britain, France and Canada -- for Israel to immediately “allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza”, noting that the territory´s population “faces starvation”.

Israel has kept Gaza in a total aid blockade since March 2, but announced on Monday it would allow a limited number of supply trucks.Prime Minister Netanyahu said the limited aid access was because “images of mass starvation” in Gaza could hurt the legitimacy of his country´s war.The statement by Britain, France and Canada said that Israel´s “denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law”.

It also slammed “abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate”.The leaders said that “permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law”.Israel said it will “take control” of the whole of Gaza, where aid entered for the first time in more than two months as rescuers reported dozens killed in a newly intensified offensive.