Hungry Gazans Left Waiting Despite Ease on Israeli Blockade

For Abdelhalim Awad, who runs a bakery in central Gaza, the hope of food arriving for hungry Gazans has become like the endless reports of an approaching cease-fire: constantly rumored to be just around the corner yet always out of reach.

Three days after Israel announced that it would ease its blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, it appeared on Wednesday that little, if any, of the desperately needed food, fuel and medicine had reached hungry Palestinians.

Dozens of trucks ferrying supplies have crossed into Gaza at the Israeli-controlled border crossing of Kerem Shalom, according to Israel. But the United Nations has so far been unable to move any trucks from Kerem Shalom to warehouses inside Gaza, according to two U.N. officials, who requested anonymity to share sensitive details.

Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, said on Tuesday that U.N. teams had waited for several hours for Israeli permission to head to the crossing. But they were unable to “secure the arrival” of those supplies to aid warehouses, he said at a news conference.

Mr. Awad said he and others had been informed by the United Nations that some shipments of flour might arrive on Wednesday. But even if they did, it would only be a dent the daily hunger that became widespread in Gaza under the Israeli blockade.

“Even if we get some flour today, it seems we won’t have anything close to what’s needed to feed people,” Mr. Awad said.