UN says 61 trucks deliver aid in northern Gaza

The UN reported on Saturday that 61 trucks bringing medical supplies, food, and water have arrived in northern Gaza, where violence has ceased, allowing relief to reach the besieged coastal enclave.

Another 200 trucks were despatched to the Gaza Strip from Nitzana, Israel, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), with 187 of them having crossed the border by early evening local time.

Eleven ambulances, three coaches, and a flatbed were transported to Al-Shifa hospital in recent days “to assist with evacuations,” according to the statement.

“The longer the pause lasts, the more aid humanitarian agencies will be able to send in and across Gaza,” it added, thanking the Palestinian and Egyptian Red Crescent groups.

The day prior, when a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas began in order to facilitate the hostage and prisoner exchange, a total of 137 trucks had delivered aid in Gaza, according to the UN.

“We welcome the release of more hostages today and renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” the OCHA said.

“And we hope the release of more Palestinian detainees brings relief to their families and loved ones.”

Exchanges continued into early Sunday, local time, with Hamas expected to free a total of 50 hostages during the four-day truce in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Hamas fighters snatched around 240 people when they broke through Gaza’s militarized border with Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, according to Israeli authorities.

Following the deadliest attack in its history, Israel launched an air, artillery and naval bombardment alongside a ground offensive to destroy Hamas, killing nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians and including thousands of children, according to the Hamas government in Gaza.