Medical Team Arrives in Gaza; UN: 100 Aid Trucks Needed Daily

A medical team along with 10 aid trucks carrying water, food, and medicine entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt on Friday, November 5. Reuters reported, citing a Palestinian border official, that a medical delegation consisting of 10 foreign doctors and 10 trucks entered Gaza via the Rafah land crossing. Thus, the total number of trucks entering since the beginning of the conflict has reached 48. The United Nations states that Gaza requires approximately 100 aid trucks daily. Lynn Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, told reporters in Geneva that negotiations are ongoing with Israel to ensure greater security for humanitarian crossings to areas under Israeli siege. Hastings stated, "In addition to technical and security issues, there are political matters, and the Israeli government is under pressure regarding domestic policy." Gaza has been under continuous Israeli airstrikes since the armed attack by Hamas forces on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Israelis, with thousands more losing their lives. About 2.3 million civilians in Gaza are facing power and water outages, as well as shortages of food, fuel, and medicine; this issue is set to be discussed on Friday, November 5, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. No agreement has yet been reached for the transfer of fuel to Gaza, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has announced that it will halt its humanitarian operations in Gaza if fuel is not quickly supplied. Furthermore, the distribution of current aid is also challenging. Hastings noted that they are aware of the existence of a thousand patients needing dialysis and over a hundred children and infants in incubators, and they are trying to prioritize according to the urgency of existing needs. Bombardments in Gaza continue, while a Hamas official has stated that the release of hostages held in Gaza is contingent upon halting the bombardment of besieged areas. Israel claims it is preparing for a ground invasion, but the U.S. and Arab countries have requested that this operation be postponed. A public survey has shown that nearly half of Israelis want to refrain from a ground attack due to concerns for the lives of about 224 hostages held in the area. Media affiliated with Hamas have reported that Hamas militants have engaged with Israeli soldiers in at least two areas within the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli army had not confirmed these reports by the time this news was prepared. Residents in central Gaza report hearing exchanges of fire and airstrikes along the border. Israel claims its fighter jets targeted three senior Hamas figures who played significant roles in the October 7 attack, but Hamas has not issued any statements regarding this. A vote is scheduled for Friday, November 5, regarding a draft resolution presented by Arab countries calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. General Assembly resolutions do not create legal obligations for member states but carry political weight. Israel has committed to destroying Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Joe Biden has stated that any discussion of a ceasefire in Gaza is only possible if Hamas releases all hostages taken during the October 7 attack. The U.S., European Union, and Japan have designated the Hamas militia, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, as a terrorist organization. The Israeli army explained to Voice of America why it does not publicly broadcast "images of Hamas's crimes." The Israeli army has conducted a second limited ground attack in Gaza. The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has called for practical action from the Biden administration regarding the Islamic Republic. Israel has described Hamas officials' trip to Moscow as "legitimizing the crimes of terrorists." The Israeli defense minister stated, "We will win and return the hostages."