The White House has announced what it calls a “historic humanitarian effort” in Gaza, claiming nearly 700 aid trucks are entering the besieged territory daily. However, Palestinian officials and international aid groups dispute these figures, accusing Israel of restricting essential supplies and using food as a weapon of control.
White House Claims Progress in Gaza Aid Deliveries
White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson told Al Jazeera that since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, an average of 674 trucks have entered Gaza each day. According to him, the United States has led efforts to deliver nearly 15,000 trucks of aid and commercial goods since October 10.
Johnson also stated that meal production inside Gaza has risen by 82% since late September, and that “eggs appeared on shelves for the first time since February,” signaling partial recovery from Israel’s earlier total blockade. He emphasized that the administration of President Donald Trump remains committed to treating Palestinians “with dignity and respect.”
Palestinian Groups Reject US Claims
Palestinian authorities and humanitarian organizations, however, paint a very different picture. Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that only 28% of the agreed-upon aid has actually been delivered since the ceasefire, totaling about 4,453 trucks—an average of just 171 per day.
“These limited quantities fall far below the minimum humanitarian threshold,” the office said, demanding at least 600 trucks daily to meet basic needs for food, medicine, and fuel.
Accusations of ‘Engineered Starvation’
The same office accused Israel of deliberately restricting access to essential goods, describing the situation as “engineered starvation.” Authorities alleged that Israel has banned over 350 key food items—including meat, vegetables, cheese, and supplements—while allowing soft drinks and snacks to enter Gaza at inflated prices.
“This proves that the occupation is deliberately manipulating food supplies as a weapon against civilians,” the statement read.
UN Confirms Limited Improvement
While the United Nations has noted some progress in southern Gaza, where families now eat two meals a day instead of one, conditions in the north remain catastrophic. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said humanitarian access is still “severely restricted,” with aid convoys limited to just two crossings.
The World Food Programme (WFP) echoed this concern, urging Israel to open all access points to prevent a worsening famine.
As Washington defends its efforts and Palestinians decry ongoing deprivation, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains one of the most urgent challenges on the global stage.
