Cairo, Egypt – Egypt has dispatched its 29th humanitarian aid convoy to the Gaza Strip, a move a senior Egyptian official described as a continuous effort to combat an “Israeli war of starvation” against the Palestinian people. The convoy, part of the “Zad El-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza” initiative, departed on Wednesday, carrying dozens of trucks laden with essential food, medicine, and fuel.
The relief effort comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The United Nations’ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently declared a famine in the enclave, the first in the Middle East, on August 22. According to the Palestinian health ministry, 185 people died of malnutrition in August alone, bringing the total starvation death toll since the start of the conflict to 361. The ministry also reported that tens of thousands of children and pregnant women are severely malnourished.
Despite Egypt’s consistent efforts which have accounted for over 70% of all aid reaching Gaza since October 2023 humanitarian operations continue to face significant challenges. The trucks must pass through the Israeli-controlled Karm Abu Salem crossing, where inspections have caused severe delays. As a result, over 5,000 trucks remain stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, with some food supplies beginning to rot.
Egyptian officials have been vocal in their condemnation of the situation. Speaking at the Bled Strategic Forum, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called the situation a “continuing humanitarian catastrophe” and urged the international community to pressure Israel for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access for aid. Similarly, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus summit, stated that the conflict had become a “war of starvation” aimed at “liquidating the Palestinian cause.”
Humanitarian organizations on the ground have also echoed these concerns. The UN and other international bodies have consistently reported that the aid entering Gaza is a fraction of what is needed to avert mass starvation. In a recent statement, the UNRWA chief said that Gaza is becoming the “graveyard of international humanitarian law” due to the blatant disregard for humanitarian principles.
The current situation is exacerbated by a renewed Israeli military offensive in Gaza City, which aid groups warn will have a “horrific impact” on a population already facing extreme hunger and displacement. While Egypt’s 29th convoy provides a crucial lifeline, it highlights the ongoing struggle to deliver essential aid in the face of what international bodies and officials are increasingly calling a man-made humanitarian catastrophe.
