Protests flared up near the main Israeli seaport as demonstrators voiced opposition to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on Thursday.
Dozens gathered at the Ashdod port entrance, closely monitoring the cargo destinations of trucks. While it remains uncertain if the protests impeded aid trucks, the United Nations has urged Israel to ensure unobstructed aid deliveries through the port.
This is not the first instance of such protests. On Sunday, demonstrators closed the Karam Abu Salem crossing, blocking humanitarian aid trucks from entering Gaza for the fourth time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue during a press conference on Saturday at the defence ministry, emphasising that the successful accomplishment of the war’s mission requires the essential provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel initially imposed a blockade on Gaza at the conflict’s onset, obstructing aid entry. Despite some easing under U.S. pressure, the delivered aid remains a fraction of pre-war levels. The toll of the war on Gaza has precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis, with U.N. agency heads warning of an imminent famine and disease outbreak without urgent aid.
Israeli restrictions and ongoing conflict continue to hinder aid delivery to Gaza’s north, where a significant population is believed to have stayed. U.N. officials estimate that approximately a quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are at risk of starvation, underscoring the urgent need for sustained humanitarian efforts amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
