JERUSALEM — A three-ship convoy departed from a port in Cyprus on Saturday carrying 400 tons of food and other supplies for Gaza due to growing concerns about hunger in the area.
The World Central Kitchen charity reported that the vessels and a barge transported enough supplies to prepare over 1 million meals, including items like rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, proteins, and dates, which are traditionally consumed to end the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
It was uncertain when the ships would arrive in Gaza. The first ship delivered 200 tons of food, water, and other aid earlier this month.
The United Nations and its partners have cautioned that famine may arise in the devastated, largely isolated northern Gaza as soon as this month. Humanitarian officials stated that deliveries by sea and air are insufficient and that Israel needs to allow much more aid through the roads. The top U.N. court has instructed Israel to open more land crossings and take other actions to address the crisis.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s state-run Al Qahera TV announced that truce talks between Israel and Hamas will restart on Sunday, citing an unnamed Egyptian security source. The channel has strong connections to the country’s intelligence services.
Only one weeklong cease-fire has been achieved in the war that began after Hamas-led militants advanced across southern Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of about 250 others. On Saturday, some Israelis once again gathered to express frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and to urge him to step down.
Families of captives pledged to demonstrate across Israel. “Give the negotiation team a broad mandate and tell them, ‘Don’t come back without an agreement, bring back our loved ones,’” said Raz Ben Ami, the wife of captive Ohad Ben Ami.
Nearly six months of conflict have devastated crucial infrastructure in Gaza, including hospitals, schools, homes, roads, sewage systems, and the electrical grid. The U.N. and international aid agencies state that over 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced.
In the coastal tent camp of Muwasi, mothers expressed concerns that young children were forgetting memories of life before the war. “We encourage them to write and draw. They only draw a tank, a missile, or planes. We urge them to draw something beautiful, like a flower or anything else. They do not see these things,” said one mother, Wafaa Abu Samra. Children lined up for turns on a small slide twice the length of their bodies, landing in the sand.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 32,705 Palestinians have died, with 82 bodies brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. The Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but has stated that the majority of those killed have been women and children.
Israel claims that over one-third of those killed are militants, although it has not presented evidence to support this, and it holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties because the group operates in residential areas.
