He sought to play down what had been a serious backlash, including from the far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich. On the social media platform, X, he suggested that allowing more supplies into the Palestinian territory benefitted Hamas, kept it in power and “may pour the achievements of the war down the drain.”
Similar attitudes have also seen extremist Israeli groups attacking aid convoys heading towards the Gaza Strip.
Sean Carroll from Anera says “political reasons” on the Israeli side are partly responsible for difficulties in getting supplies into the territory. “It’s pretty clear there’s a problem and if it were only logistical, it could be solved,” he suggests.
“We have to find a system that works and is based on good faith and that ultimately assumes some trust towards the United Nations,” says Georgios Petropoulos from OCHA.
Back in Khan Younis, men scrambling to buy the basics for their families express their frustration, feeling trapped and exhausted.
“There is no situation more difficult than this,” says Mahmoud al-Biss. “I am displaced, alone with my two kids, trying to survive. There is nobody standing with me.”
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