The Gaza Government announced that despite the recently declared ceasefire, only 173 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip so far, warning that this limited amount is insufficient to meet even the most basic humanitarian needs of the besieged population.

Gaza Government Media Office Director Ismail al-Thawabteh said in a press briefing that the ceasefire, which came into effect at 12:00 p.m. on October 10, has yet to bring any meaningful relief to the war-torn enclave.

“Since the ceasefire took effect, only 173 trucks of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza. Among them, 3 carried cooking gas, 6 carried fuel, and the rest contained small amounts of food, essential supplies, and limited medical equipment. These are far from sufficient to meet the needs of our people,” Thawabteh stated.

He described the aid reaching Gaza as “a drop in the ocean amid two years of destruction and suffering,” underscoring that the government continues to monitor the aid process, types of supplies, and distribution mechanisms carefully.

Thawabteh stressed that the Zionist occupation continues to impose severe restrictions at the border crossings, deliberately obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid and medical assistance to the Strip.

He explained that the massive damage to infrastructure and roads caused by the occupation’s aggression has further complicated the delivery of aid to both the northern and southern regions of Gaza.

“Our government’s immediate priority is to secure the areas, provide food, healthcare, and shelter, and then restore public services,” he said.

The official noted that more than 288,000 families have lost their homes, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced in temporary shelters. The government, he added, is working to establish safe housing areas, restore electricity, water, sanitation, and waste services, and gradually reopen schools when conditions permit.

According to humanitarian agencies, Gaza needs at least 600 aid trucks per day to meet its minimum requirements. However, the number allowed in since the ceasefire is less than a third of what is necessary even for survival.

Reports from several outlets, including The New Arab and Countercurrents, confirm the figure of 173 trucks and highlight the ongoing Israeli restrictions at the crossings. These sources note that only a handful of the trucks carry fuel or gas — essential for hospitals, bakeries, and clean water facilities.

Despite the ceasefire, hunger, displacement, and disease continue to spread across Gaza. Aid organizations warn that if the blockade and restrictions persist, the risk of mass starvation and medical collapse will remain high.

Thawabteh emphasized that any talk of calm or stability is meaningless as long as the blockade remains in place and humanitarian access is restricted.

“The occupation is trying to use humanitarian aid as a political weapon,” he said. “True peace will only come when the siege is lifted, the displaced return to their homes, and the aggressor is held accountable for its crimes.”

The Gaza Government called on Arab and Islamic countries, as well as international humanitarian bodies, to increase pressure for the full reopening of Gaza’s crossings and the delivery of large-scale aid without political conditions.(ILKHA)