LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) — A Panamanian-flagged vessel carrying 1,200 tons of food supplies for the Gaza Strip is approaching the Israeli port of Ashdod in an effort to address the escalating humanitarian crisis, as famine looms in the Palestinian territory. The ship set sail from Limassol, Cyprus, on Monday, and is loaded with 52 containers filled with essential food items such as pasta, rice, baby food, and canned goods. Israeli customs officials conducted a thorough screening of the aid before departure.
Approximately 700 tons of the supplies originate from Cyprus, funded through donations from the United Arab Emirates to the Amalthea Fund, which was established last year to facilitate seaborne aid. The remainder of the supplies is sourced from Italy, the Maltese government, a Catholic religious order based in Malta, and the Kuwaiti humanitarian organization Al Salam Association.
Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating, "The situation is beyond dire." Cyprus has previously served as a staging area for significant aid deliveries to Gaza. Last year, around 22,000 tons of assistance were dispatched via a pier operated by the international charity World Central Kitchen, along with a U.S. military-led logistical operation known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system.
By late July 2024, however, aid groups ended their involvement in this project due to persistent security and weather challenges that hindered the delivery of food and emergency supplies to those in need. The mission currently underway is a collaboration led by the United Nations, with logistics handled by U.N. aid workers who will transport the offloaded supplies to storage sites and food distribution centers managed by World Central Kitchen.
The charity, involved in the initial aid shipment to Gaza from Cyprus last year, is well-regarded and trusted within the beleaguered territory. Kombos acknowledged the significant contributions and unwavering commitment of all parties involved in this latest shipment, which presents an opportunity to deliver larger quantities of aid compared to the smaller aerial drops conducted by various nations recently.
Notably, this shipment comes shortly after Hamas accepted a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators. Israel, however, has yet to endorse this proposal. In light of intensified military strategies, Israel has announced plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other densely populated areas after negotiations for a ceasefire broke down last month. Experts warn that these developments could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of starvation reports in Gaza as misinformation spread by Hamas, the United Nations revealed that levels of starvation and malnutrition have reached their highest points since the onset of the conflict, which began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals and around 1,200 fatalities, primarily among civilians.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, under the governance of Hamas and staffed by medical professionals, the Palestinian death toll from nearly two years of warfare has surpassed 62,000. The ministry has not differentiated between civilian and combatant casualties, but data suggests that women and children comprise approximately half of those deceased. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the need for sustained aid remains critical.
