• The UN states that aid entry into Gaza remains restricted by Israel despite a ceasefire.
• Only 13% of cropland is undamaged and accessible, according to the UN.
• Over 37,000 metric tons of aid have been delivered since the ceasefire, but much more is still needed.
• Local food production remains challenging, with shortages of food and critical supplies reported.
• Israel's actions have drawn severe criticism for potentially committing war crimes against Palestinians.

The United Nations has highlighted that aid entry into the Gaza Strip remains heavily restricted by Israel, even after the ceasefire that began on October 10. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq emphasized that despite efforts to ramp up humanitarian aid, "people's urgent needs are still immense," with access limited to just two crossings and no direct routes from Israel to northern Gaza or from Egypt to southern Gaza. Reports state that NGO staff have also been denied access to the enclave, exacerbating the crisis according to AA and Al Jazeera.

Since the ceasefire, the UN and its partners have managed to deliver more than 37,000 metric tons of aid, primarily food, to the region; however, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Haq reported that about one million people in Gaza have received food parcels, yet more assistance is urgently required to stave off famine conditions. As the UN's report indicates, "impediments not being lifted quickly enough" are hindering the humanitarian response, as Gaza's infrastructure continues to face significant challenges following devastating bombardments according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

Furthermore, the humanitarian landscape in Gaza is critically fraught, with reports showing that only 13% of cropland in the territory remains undamaged and accessible. Haq noted that much of the farmland is in areas where the Israeli military is deployed, making local food production exceedingly difficult. The toll of the ongoing conflict has been catastrophic, resulting in nearly 69,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily among women and children, since the escalations began in early October, according to AA, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

Moreover, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen as families face severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and adequate shelter. Communities are grappling with the aftermath of destruction resulting from Israel's military operations, leading to accusations of potential war crimes against the Israeli government due to blocked humanitarian aid. Chris Gunness, former spokesperson for UNRWA, stated, “Israel has made it clear that it wants to commit a genocide against the Palestinians” if aid does not flow adequately into the region, a claim supported by Al Jazeera and Le Monde.