Symbolic imageWFP cuts food aid to 500,000 Gazans as Israel signals reopening of commercial route
The World Food Programme said on Monday it is ending monthly aid for 500,000 people in Gaza, citing lack of funding. Reuters reports Israel will resume commercial shipments.
The WFP announced on Monday, 19 October that it will support 1.1 million people a month instead of 1.6 million. Families get one food parcel instead of two plus a smaller bag of flour, and daily hot meals fall from 250,000 to 150,000. Country director Shaun Hughes said the cause is funding, not access, and the agency needs $450 million over six months. He said 1.4 million people remain acutely food insecure.
Crossings closed, prices up
Al Jazeera reports Israel closed Gaza's crossings on Wednesday, 14 October, and aid shipments were suspended for a sixth day on Monday. The price of a bundle of bread rose from 5 to 12 shekels after the WFP announcement. A Reuters headline says Israel will resume commercial shipments after a dispute over Hamas fees; the sources give no further detail.
Strikes continue
The IDF said it killed three Hamas members in Gaza on Saturday, accusing them of violating the ceasefire. Palestinian medical sources, cited by Politika, say Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Monday, including two children.
Other opinions
The Jerusalem Post reports only the killing of Hamas members, while Al Jazeera and Politika report civilian deaths.