The United Nations official, Philippe Lazzarini, raised concerns this week after a truck carrying aid was turned away in Gaza due to the inclusion of scissors in medical kits for children. The Israeli authorities deemed the scissors as “dual use,” meaning they could have both civilian and military purposes.
Lazzarini, who heads UNRWA, the main U.N. agency providing support for Palestinians in Gaza, expressed frustration over the Israeli inspection process, which he says is slowing down crucial humanitarian assistance. He emphasized the importance of clearing supplies for Gaza quickly, as the lives of 2 million people depend on it.
However, COGAT, the Israeli agency overseeing aid deliveries into Gaza, refuted Lazzarini’s claims, stating that they were not notified of the denial and that only 1.5 percent of aid trucks trying to enter the territory had been turned away.
This incident is not an isolated one, as aid groups have been vocal about the challenges they face in getting essential supplies to Gaza. Items deemed as dual use by Israel have resulted in numerous trucks being turned away, causing delays in delivering much-needed goods to the 2.2 million people in Gaza.
The issue of dual-use items and the Israeli blockade of Gaza have been ongoing for years, with aid groups and officials calling for a more transparent and efficient process. The recent incident involving the scissors in the medical kits has once again highlighted the complexities and challenges faced by those trying to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
