Aid trucks arrive as Hamas says Gaza health system on cusp of collapse

The Palestinian Red Crescent says eight aid trucks have entered Gaza, the first aid to reach the enclave in over 24 hours.

The trucks are carrying water, food and medicine.

The Palestine Red Crescent receives the fourth batch of humanitarian aid from its Egyptian counterpart at the Rafah crossing, consisting of 8 trucks:

5 trucks of water
2 trucks of food
1 truck of medicine.#Gaza #humantarianaid pic.twitter.com/y5bZUOGCPe

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) October 24, 2023

Hamas-run health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra tells al-Jazeera that the Strip is hours away from no longer being able to provide any medical services.

“We have reached the stage of complete collapse,” he claims, pleading for fuel and medical goods.

The claim cannot be independently verified.

The World Health Organization, which works through UNRWA, says it delivered 34000 liters (8981.85 gallons) of fuel Monday to four major hospitals in southern Gaza and the Palestine Red Crescent. Such an amount was only enough to keep ambulances and critical hospital functions running for a little over 24 hours.

It also distributed medicine and other supplies to key hospitals in southern Gaza, as well as the Palestine Red Crescent.

Israel has said it will not allow fuel into the Strip as it may be stolen by Hamas.

UNRWA also says it will stop being able to deliver services without an infusion of fuel.