Gaza Strip receives boost in humanitarian aid: White House

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Humanitarian aid flowing into the Gaza Strip has seen a significant surge in recent days, said White House National Security spokesman John Kirby on Monday.

In an interview with MSNBC on Monday, Kirby emphasized the aid's crucial role in alleviating the dire humanitarian situation in the area.

"The aid has increased and quite dramatically in just the last few days," Kirby said, underscoring the importance of sustaining this momentum to address the urgent needs of the Gazan population.

While acknowledging the recent progress, he also stressed the US’ commitment to ensuring the continuity of aid delivery to the region.

"That's important but it has to be sustained," Kirby noted.

The escalation of aid provision signals a collective effort to respond to the pressing challenges faced by the people of Gaza, including access to essential services, medical supplies, and food assistance.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which nearly 1,200 people were killed.

More than 33,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 76,400 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.