Dozens of World Food Program trucks began transporting the cargo of the first humanitarian aid ship to arrive at the floating dock on the shore of the Gaza Strip, amid the United Nations’ assertion that this temporary port cannot be an alternative to the land crossings closed by Israel.
Anadolu Agency reported that dozens of trucks set off from areas south of the Gaza Strip, arrived at the floating port south of Gaza City, and began transporting the cargo of the first humanitarian aid ship to arrive at the port.
She stated that the trucks belonged to the World Food Program and were accompanied by its crews on their way to the port.
According to local Palestinian sources, the trucks will transport the ship’s cargo of aid to areas south of the Gaza Strip to distribute it to hundreds of thousands of displaced people, especially in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis (south) and Deir Al-Balah (centre).
Multinational operation
Earlier Friday, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced the movement of the first humanitarian aid trucks via the floating dock into the Gaza Strip.
She explained that the operation comes as part of an ongoing multinational effort to provide additional aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza through the entirely humanitarian sea corridor, which includes aid donated by a number of countries and humanitarian organizations.
The Palestinians suffer from a severe scarcity of all basic materials, which has caused famine and disastrous conditions as a result of the war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip and supported militarily, politically, and intelligence by Washington.
The Associated Press quoted American military officials as saying they expected about 150 aid trucks to cross the floating dock daily into the Gaza Strip.
There is no substitute for righteousness
However, humanitarian workers say that aid coming by sea will not be enough to alleviate the severe human suffering in Gaza, and that the most effective way is to deliver it through land crossings.
For its part, Britain said on Friday that it had transported aid to Gaza via a floating dock for the first time, using the temporary dock established by the United States.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement, “British aid is now being delivered to people via the temporary dock off Gaza.”
He added, “More aid will be sent in the coming weeks, but we know that the sea route is not the only solution. We need to see more land routes open.”
UN statement
Likewise, the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs said on Friday that humanitarian aid provided to the Gaza Strip should not depend on a floating dock far from the places most in need, stressing that land routes are the most feasible for delivering aid.
He stressed that all aid arriving in Gaza is welcome, and does not detract from the fact that aid via land will be even more important.
It is noteworthy that Israel has launched a continuous aggression against Gaza since last October 7, which has so far led to the death of more than 35,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, in addition to the destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of the population.
In addition to the air, land and sea bombardment, Israel closed the crossings leading to Gaza to aid, which led to the spread of famine in various cities of the Strip.