Israel has imposed stringent new restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, keeping the Rafah border crossing with Egypt closed and drastically reducing the number of aid trucks allowed daily. The announcement comes as tensions rise and Israeli forces reportedly killed at least nine Palestinians, undermining the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

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Aid Flow Restrictions in Gaza

According to Israeli authorities, only 300 aid trucks per day will be permitted to enter Gaza—half of the 600 trucks originally agreed under the ceasefire plan. The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees aid entry into Gaza, specified that fuel and gas will only be allowed for essential humanitarian infrastructure, leaving basic civilian needs unmet.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza confirmed receipt of Israel’s updated directive. OCHA warned that the reduced aid was insufficient for Gaza’s famine-stricken population, with Al Jazeera reporting that 300 trucks a day is “not nearly enough” to meet urgent humanitarian needs.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, initially scheduled to open, will remain closed, further constraining the delivery of food, medical supplies, and essential goods.

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Rising Violence Despite Ceasefire

Hours after announcing the aid restrictions, Israeli forces reportedly killed at least nine Palestinians across Gaza. Medical sources confirmed that six were killed in Gaza City, while three others died in Khan Younis. Among the casualties, five were reported in the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City.

The Israeli military claimed the attacks were necessary to remove threats from individuals approaching their forces. These incidents come four days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aimed at enabling the release of captives and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

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Ceasefire and Captive Exchange

The ceasefire, part of US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal, facilitated the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians from Israeli prisons and 20 Israeli captives held in Gaza. Some 154 Palestinian prisoners were exiled to Egypt.

However, delays in transferring the remains of deceased captives have escalated tensions. Hamas initially handed over only four coffins instead of the 28 promised. Israel reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross received the four additional remains on Tuesday.

Trump reacted on social media, writing: “THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!” Hamas cited difficulties in locating some captives’ remains due to the widespread destruction caused by Israeli strikes.

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International Response: Calls for Aid and Action

The United Nations, International Red Cross, and humanitarian organizations have urged Israel to open all border crossings and allow sufficient aid into Gaza. OCHA stated that 190,000 metric tonnes of aid are ready to enter Gaza immediately, but restricted access is preventing their distribution.

UNICEF reported that 1,370 aid trucks were prepared for Gaza, emphasizing that at least 600 trucks per day are necessary to meet basic humanitarian needs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also called for an urgent increase in medical aid, stressing that Gaza’s hospitals continue to operate under extreme pressure. Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesman, said:
“We need to bring as many supplies as possible right now to ensure healthcare workers can continue saving lives.”

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Impact on Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

Since October 2023, the conflict has killed over 67,913 Palestinians and wounded 170,134, according to Palestinian health authorities. Thousands more remain trapped under rubble. On the Israeli side, 1,139 people were killed during the initial Hamas attack, and more than 200 were taken captive.

Humanitarian experts warn that restricting aid during a ceasefire undermines efforts to stabilize Gaza and could exacerbate famine, disease, and displacement.

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Key Takeaways

• Israel reduces Gaza aid to 300 trucks per day, half the originally agreed amount.
• The Rafah crossing with Egypt remains closed, limiting aid flow.
• Nine Palestinians killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, raising tension.
• US-backed ceasefire enabled release of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and 20 Israeli captives.
• International agencies call for full access for humanitarian aid to prevent further crisis.