Essential Supplies Held Hostage Amid Ceasefire Talks
Flour and vegetable prices in Gaza have surged over 100-fold since Israel closed all cargo crossings into the enclave, according to UN reports. 🆘 Humanitarian aid—including thousands of tents—remains stuck at blocked entry points like Kerem Shalom and Erez, leaving families to ration dwindling supplies.
UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher called the move 'alarming,' stressing: 'We need to get aid in and the hostages out.' The UN Children’s Fund warns of 'devastating consequences' for Gaza’s 1.1 million minors if aid doesn’t resume soon.
Behind the Blockade
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the restrictions aim to pressure Hamas into accepting a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges immediate aid access and hostage releases, fearing a relapse into full-scale conflict.
OCHA teams are scrambling to assess remaining stockpiles within Gaza as markets empty. With no clear timeline for reopening crossings, the world watches to see if diplomacy can unclog this humanitarian bottleneck. 🌍⚖️
