Fragile Ceasefire Strained as Israel Halves Agreed-Upon Aid Flow
BRUSSELS/JERUSALEM: One week after a US-brokered ceasefire went into effect, the European Commission has publicly called on Israel to immediately lift restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The EU’s demand comes as Israel continues to permit the entry of only half the aid trucks agreed upon in the truce deal.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by US President Donald Trump, stipulates that Israel must grant passage for 600 aid trucks daily to address the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, Israeli authorities have reportedly been restricting the daily flow to approximately 300 trucks.
Israel has defended its decision to halve the aid flow by accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials claim the measure is a direct response to the militant group’s slow return of the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages.
Despite the truce—which included the exchange of living hostages for Palestinian prisoners—the dispute over the remains of deceased Israelis has quickly become a flashpoint, straining the fragile agreement.
The delay in aid is having a critical impact on relief efforts, leaving vital supplies stranded outside the enclave.