Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza
Gaza, May 24: After the last bread was handed out at Al Haj bakery on Thursday, many Gazans, including Jihad Al Shafie, left empty-handed amid growing hunger and desperation. Despite limited aid trucks entering Gaza for the first time since early March, much of the promised food remains stuck in southern Gaza, leaving crowds frustrated.
The bakery owner described chaotic scenes as desperate people scrambled for bread, but many left without food. Ina’am Al Burdeini, who walked an hour to the bakery, expressed frustration, saying, “We feel lost and abandoned… It’s time for action, not empty promises.”
More than 300 aid trucks have entered Gaza this week, a fraction of the usual 500-600 daily before the war, according to the UN. Israel’s COGAT claims there is no food shortage, but aid workers warn the current deliveries are insufficient to meet the needs.
Aid convoys have faced attacks and looting, with some trucks damaged in southern Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said strikes targeted armed militants near aid trucks, not the aid itself. The World Food Programme confirmed looting of several trucks supplying bakeries.
A US-Israeli aid program aiming to open distribution sites has been rejected by the UN and humanitarian groups, who fear it may harm civilians.
On Friday, Gaza’s Bakery Owners Association announced they would halt operations due to the crisis, urging international help to allow entry of flour and essential supplies to ensure bread reaches families.
With hunger and insecurity mounting, Gazans face a worsening humanitarian crisis amid limited and disrupted aid deliveries.