Israel rejects mass starvation claim

Deir al-Balah: Over 100 aid agencies warn that “mass starvation” is spreading in Gaza, accusing Israel of not allowing food inside the Strip to be distributed, BBC reported. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that 10 people have died of malnutrition in the last 24 hours alone.

Israel, which controls all border crossings in Gaza, said there were “950 trucks’ worth of aid currently waiting in Gaza for international organisations to pick up and distribute”. A man said it cost 600 shekels (£133) daily just to eat lentils and one loaf of bread. Meanwhile, Israel said its ground and air offensive continued, with the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reporting 21 people killed by air strikes in Gaza on Wednesday.

AP adds: more than 100 charity and human rights groups said Israel’s blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation, as Israeli strikes killed another 21 people overnight, according to local health officials. The Trump administration’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was set to meet a senior Israeli official about ceasefire talks, a sign that lower-level negotiations that have dragged on for weeks could be approaching a breakthrough.

Experts say Gaza is at risk of famine because of Israel’s blockade and offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, attack.

Israel said it allowed enough aid into the territory and faults delivery efforts by UN agencies, which say they are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of security. Hamas said it will only release the remaining 50 hostages it holds, 20 of them believed to be alive, in excha­nge for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to recover all the captives and continue the war until Hamas has been defeated or disarmed.