Germany criticizes Israel for allowing inadequate aid into Gaza

BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday criticized Israel for allowing inadequate aid into war-ravaged Gaza, saying deliveries do not meet Palestinians' needs.

“We are in close contact with the Israeli government, and it is quite clear that the aid deliveries so far are far too little, do not meet the needs, and that much more must come in. And above all, the United Nations and the humanitarian organizations there must and should be allowed to work independently,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Christian Wagner, told journalists in Berlin.

Meanwhile, new German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius reiterated his “great concern” over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. ​​​​​​​

Despite Israel letting a trickle of aid into Gaza after blocking it for over two months, as yet, no humanitarian aid has actually been distributed in the embattled enclave, according to the UN.

"Today, one of our teams waited several hours for the Israeli green light to access the Kareem Shalom area and collect the nutrition supplies. Unfortunately, they were not able to bring those supplies into our warehouse,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday.

"So just to make it clear, while more supplies have come into the Gaza Strip, we have not been able to secure the arrival of those supplies into our warehouses and delivery points."

His remarks came after the UN humanitarian affairs office on Tuesday said Israel approved the entry of around 100 trucks carrying aid into Gaza, a significant increase from the nine cleared a day earlier, but still far less than is needed for the population of Gaza, who face near-famine conditions, according to aid groups and international organizations.