UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and Israel are embroiled in a heated dispute while humanitarian conditions in Gaza show little improvement, according to aid organizations. The Israeli military announced the dispatch of the first aid convoy to Gaza from the Ashdod port, nearly 30 kilometers north of the territory.

Eight trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) transported mainly flour to Gaza on Tuesday. Israel previously pledged to utilize the Ashdod port for Gaza aid, where near-famine conditions, as reported by the UN and numerous aid groups, persist.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, accused Israel of deliberately causing a “man-made famine” in Gaza, decrying a “treacherous campaign” against the agency. In response, Israel’s UN representative Gilad Erdan claimed UNRWA no longer prioritizes humanitarian aid and allegedly incites anti-Israel sentiment among youth.

Relations between UNRWA and Israel have deteriorated, with Israel denying UNRWA access to northern Gaza since March. Earlier, Israel accused some UNRWA staff of involvement in an October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, leading to their dismissal.

An internal UN investigation’s findings, expected Saturday, could shed light on the matter.

Contradicting international claims of hunger in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied the existence of famine, asserting his government’s efforts in addressing humanitarian concerns.

The Israeli military claims to have allowed a total of 376 aid trucks into Gaza on Tuesday, with 215 successfully entering, including 150 loaded with food.

However, aid organizations stress the need for significantly more daily aid deliveries, advocating for 500-600 trucks daily, preferably overland for speed, safety, and cost-efficiency.

Despite recent increases in aid deliveries, organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières report no tangible improvements in Gaza’s conditions, attributing the challenge to the absence of a lasting ceasefire.