The United Nations said yesterday aid flows into Gaza had risen significantly since a ceasefire took effect last month including for items such as tents that had faced Israeli restrictions, even as fears rise that the fragile calm might not last.
After the UN update, witnesses at the Egypt-Gaza border said some aid items such as clothing, medical supplies and soft drinks were being held up on trucks waiting to enter the enclave after checks by Israeli officials.
Some truck drivers near Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt added that construction materials and tents had been blocked there since the start of the ceasefire.
Hamas began releasing some hostages gradually under the first phase of a ceasefire, but said on Monday it would free no more until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the terms with several deadly shootings as well as hold-ups of some aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip.
Israel denies holding back aid supplies and says it has fired on people who disregard warnings not to approach Israeli troop positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday the ceasefire would end if Hamas did not return hostages held in the enclave by noon on Saturday.
Hamas said alleged Israeli violations included stopping some humanitarian aid from entering Gaza as stipulated in the deal, such as 60,000 mobile houses and 200,000 tents as well as heavy machinery to remove rubble and fuel.
Earlier yesterday, UN humanitarian office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke told a Geneva press briefing that since the truce took effect on January 19, “we have been able to scale up humanitarian operations significantly with food, medical and shelter supplies and other aid during the ceasefire period”.
Earlier this month, aid officials said there were impediments to importing some items like shelter equipment which Israel said had the potential for “dual use” - civilian or military.
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