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Israel delays entry of shelter materials, fuel to Gaza, authorities say

February 4, 2025 at 12:44 pm

Humanitarian aid trucks continue to enter Gaza Strip and proceeded towards the distribution center following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Khan Yunis, Gaza on January 30, 2025 [Moiz Salhi/Anadolu Agency]

Israel is delaying the entry of shelter materials and fuel into Gaza, despite the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, local authorities in the Strip said yesterday.

“Although the humanitarian protocol under the ceasefire agreement clearly outlines these commitments, the Israeli occupation has failed to meet its obligations and continues to delay and obstruct the entry of humanitarian, relief and shelter aid,” the Government Media Office said in a statement.

The office added that, under the humanitarian protocol, Israel was supposed to allow the entry of 60,000 caravans and 200,000 tents into Gaza to accommodate displaced Palestinians whose homes and residential areas were destroyed by Israeli attacks.

The agreement also included the daily entry of 600 aid and fuel trucks, including 50 carrying fuel and gas, as well as essential humanitarian, medical and civil defence equipment. This also covered debris removal, infrastructure repairs, the operation of the power plant and the rehabilitation of humanitarian services in Gaza.

The office noted that Israel is “placing obstacles and stalling implementation,” worsening the humanitarian crisis and increasing civilian suffering. It warned that this could lead to “serious and unprecedented consequences.”

The Gaza government held Israel and the US administration “fully responsible for the dangerous consequences of Israel’s failure to honour its commitments.” It called on the guarantors of the agreement – Qatar, Egypt and the United States – as well as international parties to take urgent and decisive action to ensure the immediate implementation of the humanitarian protocol.

This is not the first time Israel has delayed implementing the agreement. A government source in Gaza revealed on 23 January that, since the ceasefire took effect on 19 January, only 861 aid trucks had entered northern Gaza – far fewer than the 1,200 originally agreed – due to Israeli restrictions.

The ceasefire, which began on 19 January, is set to last 42 days in its first phase, during which negotiations will take place to advance to the second and third phases.

READ: UN official says No time to waste to meet shelter needs in Gaza