First aid trucks enter Gaza after 10-week blockade but UN warns it's just a 'drop in the ocean'

Israel’s military confirmed the first trucks carrying aid had entered the region late on Monday afternoon, but the United Nations has warned it is just a “drop in the ocean.”

Israel made the decision to allow aid into Gaza following pressure from its allies, Benjamin Netanyahu said today.

Earlier on Monday, a UN spokesperson told the Associated Press news agency that around 20 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza.

But according to UN aid chief Tom Fletcher, just nine trucks of aid crossed into Gaza through the Keren Shalom crossing.

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In a statement, he said: “It is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed, and significantly more aid must be allowed into Gaza, starting tomorrow morning.

“To reduce looting, there must be a regular flow of aid, and humanitarians must be permitted to use multiple routes.

“Commercial goods should complement the humanitarian response,” he said.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the situation in Gaza, where aid imports remain limited and an evacuation order has been issued for its second-largest city Khan Younis, is “really serious, unacceptable, intolerable”.

Speaking at a press conference alongside European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Sir Keir said: "It’s a really serious, unacceptable, intolerable situation, and that’s why we are working intensely to coordinate with other leaders on how we respond to this."

In a joint statement with other world leaders, Sir Keir said: "We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response."

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision to allow aid was made to prevent a “starvation crisis” and "based on the operational need to enable the expansion of the military operation to defeat Hamas."

It comes after the deadliest week in Gaza since Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas collapsed, with Israeli forces killing at least 140 people in the last 24 hours, including many women and children.

Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid, including food, water and medical supplies, from entering Gaza since March 2.

At least 53,000 people, the vast majority women and children, have been killed during Israel’s assault on Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 attack, the UN reports.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said it would "allow a basic quantity of food to be brought in for the population in order to make certain that no starvation crisis develops in the Gaza Strip".

"Such a crisis would endanger the continuation of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' to defeat Hamas," the statement added.

"Israel will act to deny Hamas's ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian assistance in order to ensure that the assistance does not reach the Hamas terrorists."

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military announced the beginning of a fresh offensive in Gaza, killing at least 140 people as it entered its second day of ceasefire talks with Hamas in Qatar.

Israeli officials said the attacks, which mostly targeted hospitals throughout Gaza,“ eliminated dozens of terrorists, dismantled terrorist infrastructure sites … and [were] currently being deployed in key positions”.