Rare fuel convoy allowed into Gaza: Egyptian media

Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said on Sunday that two fuel trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread.

Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients.

There was no immediate confirmation whether the fuel trucks had indeed entered Gaza.

Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid and goods into the enclave. 

The Gaza health ministry said on Sunday that six more people had died of starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the toll of those dying of such causes to 175, including 93 children, since the war began.

In response to a rising international outcry, Israel announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing attacks for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys.

Experts have accused Israel of deliberately bringing Gaza's population to the point of 'no return' with starvation and only allowing aid in when damage to the health of the enclave's population cannot be reversed.

United Nations agencies have said that airdrops of food are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the war-devastated territory where starvation has been spreading.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said 35 trucks have entered Gaza since June, nearly all of them in July.

Gaza's government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July.

However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. Israel's government has previously admitted to arming criminal gangs in an apparent bid to challenge Hamas.

More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry.

According to Israeli officials, 50 Israeli captives now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.