Gazans suffer amid blockade as IDF accuses Hamas of stealing aid

In the southern Gaza Strip, a child reaches out for a meal from a charity kitchen on Tuesday, amid concerns about dwindling food supplies due to an Israeli blockade and Hamas interference. The blockade, which began on March 2 after a breakdown in a cease-fire agreement, has left Gaza residents with limited access to food. The U.N. World Food Programme recently distributed its remaining food stocks to families in Gaza, but has depleted its resources. According to WFP officials, the hot-meals kitchens in Gaza are running out of food, putting further strain on the already fragile food system in the region. The closure of aid corridors and border crossings has led to skyrocketing food prices and shortages of essential commodities, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.N. estimates that over 2 million people in Gaza rely on aid for survival, but the ongoing blockade has caused severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials. Despite the challenges, some individuals like Um Muhammad, who is staying in a shelter in Gaza City, are doing their best to provide for their families with the limited resources available. However, the situation remains dire, with uncertainty looming over the future availability of food in Gaza. Reports of looting and Hamas interference with aid deliveries have further complicated the situation, with the IDF accusing Hamas of diverting humanitarian supplies for their own purposes. The IDF has also uncovered instances where UNRWA aid bags were used to conceal weapons, highlighting the challenges faced in delivering aid to those in need in Gaza.