Thousands of babies in Gaza face death within the next two days if lifesaving aid does not reach them, the UN has warned.
According to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, about 14,000 infants are in critical danger as essential supplies, including baby formula and food, remain stalled outside the region.
The aid, loaded on thousands of trucks, is waiting at border crossings. Fletcher said the supplies are ready and urgently needed but have not yet been allowed through to communities in Gaza. The ongoing delay has raised deep concerns among aid agencies and global health officials.
Israel has continued to insist on strict inspections, saying it wants to prevent supplies from being diverted by Hamas. It claims the militant group has interfered with previous shipments. Hamas denies these accusations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated this week that Israel aims to prevent a famine but will only allow a minimum level of aid into Gaza. He referred to this limited access as a “basic bridge” to avoid mass hunger.
Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have said that the aid currently waiting to be delivered contains critical items for child nutrition. Without it, they say babies suffering from severe malnutrition may not survive even a few more days.
As the situation grows more urgent, international pressure continues to mount on Israel to allow full and immediate access for aid convoys. But with each passing hour, the window to save lives narrows.