The ceasefire in Gaza is under severe strain just weeks after Donald Trump hailed a “new dawn” for the Middle East.
Despite international pledges, aid is failing to reach those in need, while reprisals and accusations of violations continue on both sides.
Regional powers such as Egypt, Qatar and Iran are navigating a delicate balance of influence, and the United States struggles to maintain its fragile ceasefire.
Morale among Israeli troops is said to be low, with rising refusals of reserve duty and suicide attempts, while extraordinary acts of courage and compassion continue in Gaza and Israel.
In a recent Q&A with Independent readers, I tackled your questions on aid delivery, peace negotiations, regional influence, and the human stories from the ground.
Here are some of them – and my answers:
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A: Not enough. Leading aid and UN agencies say supplies entering Gaza are far below what is needed to address the humanitarian catastrophe, where nearly all 2.3 million residents have lost their homes.
Trump’s ceasefire deal, which came into effect on 10 October, calls for 600 trucks of aid and commercial supplies per day – but senior UN officials say at least 1,000 are needed. Gaza’s local administration estimates only about 145 trucks actually reach their destinations due to Israeli restrictions.
Israel denies limiting aid, with COGAT, the military unit coordinating deliveries, stating that “hundreds of trucks carrying food, water, fuel, gas, medicines, medical equipment, tents and shelter supplies enter the Gaza Strip every day.” However, a senior Jordanian official said no aid from Jordan has entered Gaza since a September security incident that closed the corridor, leaving over 3,000 trucks waiting.
The Norwegian Refugee Council reported millions of shelter and non-food items are stuck in Jordan, Egypt and Israel awaiting approval. Since the ceasefire, Israeli authorities have rejected 23 requests from nine aid agencies to deliver urgently needed shelter supplies – nearly 4,000 pallets or 1,699 tonnes – and even authorised shipments face “prolonged and opaque customs requirements.”
The needs are enormous and urgent, especially as winter approaches. Palestinians in Gaza are facing unprecedented destruction from the Israeli offensive. An estimated 60 million tonnes of rubble needs to be removed, requiring the entry of heavy machinery – without this removal, even temporary shelter installation is extremely difficult.
More than 1.45 million people need emergency shelter support. There are tens of thousands of gravely injured and sick people needing medical supplies and medical evacuation. The numbers are unimaginable.
MattAllenby
