Ministry of Social Development Warns of Aid Shipments Buildup as Israeli Blockade Prevents Entry into Gaza.

Gaza: The Ministry of Social Development, alongside international relief organizations, issued a warning on Sunday about the escalating hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, caused by the occupation's deliberate obstruction and restriction of aid shipments, leading to a stockpile of food supplies. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Ministry said it was working diligently to deliver humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza and underprivileged families in various West Bank governorates, despite its significant challenges. Over the past months, the ministry has continuously collaborated with several organizations and entities within the occupied territories. These efforts have resulted in the delivery and distribution of approximately 140 aid shipments to Gaza, in addition to around 250 truckloads distributed to underprivileged families and those affected by repeated Israeli incursions in the West Bank. The ministry reiterated its commitment to working with international partners and exert ing pressure to facilitate the entry of additional aid shipments into Gaza. It also underscored its dedication to mobilizing all available resources and capacities to support and strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people. According to the United Nations, 85% of efforts to coordinate aid convoys to northern Gaza have been either rejected or blocked by Israeli occupation forces. The World Food Program reported a significant decrease in the capacity to deliver aid through Jordan to Gaza, with only 43% of the planned shipments delivered in October. A report by OCHA said that humanitarian organizations submitted 50 requests to Israeli authorities for access to northern Gaza in October, with only 8 requests being approved. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, accused Israel of weaponizing hunger against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.