Gaza Strip - May 19, 2024

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) insisted Friday that it does not accept the existence of the temporary aid dock installed by the United States in the Gaza Strip as an advance party for a possible foreign intervention in the enclave and insisted on the immediate reopening of the land crossings to Gaza to resume and increase assistance. "We and the other factions of the Palestinian resistance affirm the right of our people to receive all the aid they need in light of the humanitarian catastrophe created by the occupation in its brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a statement published by the daily Filastin, which is close to the Islamist movement. Hamas also said that "no sea route represents an alternative to the opening of all land crossings under Palestinian supervision". The UK announced Friday that it has sent the first shipment of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via the floating dock installed by the United States as part of an international initiative with the United Arab Emirates, consisting of 8,400 'kits' including plastic sheeting to set up temporary shelters. London, which has contributed £9.7 million (11.3 million euros) to the initiative, will send "in the coming weeks" an additional 2,000 kits, 900 tents, five forklift trucks and 9,200 personal hygiene kits. The European Union also announced Friday that it is mobilising food supplies to the Gaza Strip via the floating dock, after the United States said Thursday that temporary infrastructure was ready on a Gaza beach to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.

SHOTLIST
1. Various people on the Gaza coast waiting for humanitarian aid;
2. Various of ships.