Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse, led by evangelist Franklin Graham, has sent nearly 200 tonnes of critical aid to Gaza in recent weeks, amid mounting concerns over severe shortages of food and malnutrition in the Hamas-ruled territory.
“Early this morning, our Samaritan’s Purse 757 and DC-8 cargo planes took off with over 40 tonnes of nutritional peanut-based food product packets for families in Gaza,” Reverend Graham announced on Saturday (August 16).
He confirmed the packages were due to arrive in Israel before being transported into Gaza for further distribution.
“These are our sixth and seventh airlifts in just the last month.”
SECURITY CONCERNS PREVENT DETAILS OF DISTRIBUTION
Samaritan’s Purse has not given any details about the way it distributes the aid because of security concerns.
“Trusted ministry and humanitarian partners” already operating in the region help ensure that the aid reaches families in desperate need, explained the humanitarian agency.
It is known to work with local churches and Gaza’s tiny Christian community.
“Please continue praying for our teams on the ground as they work to get this life-saving aid to those in need,” appealed Reverend Graham.
ACCESSING AID PACKAGES HAS BECOME EXTREMELY RISKY
Worthy Christian News reports such deliveries avoid potentially dangerous airdrops.
But even on the ground, distribution of humanitarian aid has become increasingly risky, with claims of hundreds dying.
Hamas accuses Israeli soldiers of firing on crowds of Palestinians rushing for food.
Israel accuses Hamas of stealing and diverting relief supplies, and also firing on people queueing for aid packages.
Worthy Christian News says its reporters have seen videos of armed men on trucks packed with packages, reportedly threatening and firing at desperate crowds attempting to access food.
SAMARITAN’S PURSE WILL CONTINUE AIRLIFTS FOR GAZANS
Despite the challenges, Samaritan’s Purse says it will continue sending humanitarian supplies to Israel in the coming weeks amid increasing reports of hunger and starvation.
The humanitarian charity also provides aid to needy Israeli families and is donating dozens of ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
Reverend Graham emphasised that his Christian agency remains committed to “bringing life-saving help in Jesus’ name” to those suffering inside Gaza.
The Israeli government says it allows nearly 20 organisations, including Samaritan’s Purse and the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), to provide critical relief supplies to Gaza.
UN: “ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IN GAZA CITY MALNOURISHED”
The United Nations (UN) has claimed more than “one in five children in Gaza City” are malnourished, with hospitals reporting dozens of severe new cases daily.
It is unclear whether these figures are based on information from Hamas-run authorities which report deaths due to starvation, almost daily.
Aid groups say they have documented widespread water shortages, with families resorting to drinking unsafe or contaminated water as basic infrastructure collapses.
Hamas-run authorities in Gaza and the UN blame Israel’s ongoing military campaign and tight restrictions on border crossings for worsening the crisis.
THE STATISTICS ON AID DELIVERIES AND DEATHS
The Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, COGAT, says Israel invests “considerable efforts” in aid, adding that 300 trucks have been transferred daily in “recent weeks,” mostly carrying food, via all land crossings.
The Hamas-run Gaza Government Media office said at least 1,334 aid trucks had entered Gaza through all land crossings since July 27.
Nearly 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war so far, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
It also claims that more than 200 people, nearly half of them children, have died of “starvation.”
There is minimal evidence made available to back up all claims of casualties.
Israel disputes them — but has not offered any of its own statistics and alternative evidence.
INTERFAITH COALITION CALLS ON UN TO PARTNER WITH GHF. IT REFUSES.
An interfaith coalition of more than 200 faith-based and secular NGOs from over 15 countries is calling on the UN and world leaders to abandon Gaza aid distribution through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and instead partner with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Worthy Christian News reports that in a letter to the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the signatories – which include the Christian Jewish Alliance, Israel Christian Nexus, and the Multi-Faith Women’s Empowerment Council – warn that UNRWA’s Gaza operations have been “compromised,” enabling Hamas to profit from and control humanitarian aid, in violation of international law.
The letter cites multiple reports and eyewitness testimonies from Palestinians and politicians confirming that Hamas has exploited the UN’s aid network.
It claims Hamas has siphoned off an estimated A$1.5 billion since the war began through direct theft and by taxing aid that should have been free.
It also accuses UN employees of weaponising aid by hoarding food instead of distributing it.
DISPUTED CLAIMS OVER SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF GHF
The Israel and US-backed GHF claims to have delivered 123 million free meals directly to ordinary Gazans since May, including 1.5 million in the past week alone.
Retired British Army Colonel Richard Kemp called the operation “brilliantly conceived and extremely well executed” after inspecting GHF sites.
The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine (OHCHR) rejects that assessment.
It claims that since late May, at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food aid — 860 in the vicinity of GHF sites and more than 500 along the routes of food convoys.
OHCHR said most of the killings were committed by the Israeli military, while conceding the presence of other armed elements in the same areas.
HUMANITARIAN AID IMPASSE; UN REFUSES TO WORK WITH GHF
UN officials have refused to cooperate with GHF and are actively campaigning against it.
Some reports say Hamas has allegedly placed bounties on GHF workers and engaged in the torture and killings of Palestinian aid staff associated with the group.
Either evidence is lacking to support the claims of all parties, or what little is available, is being used in a fierce propaganda war over how to help the people of Gaza — that’s just delaying them getting the urgent help they desperately need.
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