Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the world is 'disgusted' with the level of bombing and starvation in Gaza while arguing that Israel's apparent weaponisation of aid is a war crime.
The United Nations has received permission from Israel for about 100 more aid trucks to enter Gaza today, a spokesperson for its humanitarian office said.
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office said: "We have requested and received approval for more trucks to enter today, many more than were approved yesterday"
After an 11-week Israeli blockade, Israel cleared nine trucks of aid on Monday to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, although Laerke said just five of those entered Gaza. Roughly 100 trucks are due to be allowed to enter the strip today according to reports.
Earlier, the Taoiseach says the amount of aid being allowed into Gaza is a ‘’sick joke.’’ Micheál Martin said the World is disgusted with the level of bombing and starvation and says the weaponisation of aid is a war crime.
Aid has started entering Gaza for the first time in nearly three months - although only five lorries were allowed in yesterday.
The Taoiseach says it’s sickening: "I think five trucks instead of the 500 plus that we urgently need a day is a sick joke. I mean it's beyond, and I don't like using that language. It's just I couldn't believe yesterday the news that five trucks has been left in. Sure we know we need hundreds and hundreds of trucks. I mean people are starving".
Malnutrition rates in Gaza have risen during the Israeli blockade and could rise exponentially if food shortages continue, a health official at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said at the same briefing.
