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Today's Paper | May 11, 2026

Published 13 Mar, 2024 05:59pm

Hamas says maritime aid route for Gaza inadequate

The government in Gaza said that sending an aid ship from Cyprus to the besieged territory was an inadequate response to the needs of its 2.4 million people, AFP reports.

“According to what was announced, the ship’s cargo does not exceed that of one or two trucks, and it will take days to arrive,” Salama Marouf, spokesperson for the government press office, said in a statement.

He said some logistical questions about the operation were unanswered and raised concerns about Israeli inspections.

“It is still unknown where it will dock and how it will reach the shores of Gaza,” Marouf said.

“Moreover, it will be subject to inspection by the occupying army,” Marouf added.

Echoing a point made repeatedly by UN agencies in recent days, Marouf noted that a maritime aid corridor was far less efficient than overland routes, and called for international pressure on Israel to let aid trucks through its border crossings.

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