Palestinian tribes and police guard UN aid lorries as relieved residents receive food in northern Gaza

Local tribes and police in northern Gaza have begun distributing UN aid to Palestinians in an effort to prevent overcrowding during deliveries.

Aid delivery to the area by land has been hindered by laborious border checks by Israeli officials, desperate residents rushing aid convoys and, according to local officials and media, Israeli troops shooting dozens of Palestinians dead.

However, a convoy reached northern Gaza on Saturday night under the protection of local tribes and police officers, who managed to prevent the lorries from being overwhelmed by thousands of Gazans.

Sources involved in the operation said residents had been told not to crowd around the delivery point, where six lorryloads of flour and food were dropped off by UN staff near the Jabalia refugee camp.

A separate convoy of seven lorries delivered supplies to Gaza city.

Hassan Al Kafarna, from Jabalia, was pleased that aid had been delivered in an organised manner, and delighted that his children will have bread to eat.

“To control the arrival of aid without causing bloodshed is a respectable and commendable effort that deserves appreciation. Everyone should support this work and play a positive role in it,” he told The National.

“I asked my young son not to fast because he would only be able to break his fast with rice, but he refused and insisted on fasting all day. Now he will be happy to have suhoor and eat bread.”

Yoused Ghabaeen, from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, has been leaving his home in search of food for iftar since the beginning of Ramadan.

“Now I feel like Ramadan has begun and my family is starting to think about what dishes to prepare for iftar,” he told The National.

Mr Ghabaeen has been staying with relatives since his home was destroyed by an Israeli air strike.

“I hope this nightmare ends soon and I can start rebuilding my home and return to our normal life,” he said.

Israel has faced growing international pressure to speed up the process of approving aid lorries to cross into Gaza.

On Saturday, the first shipment of aid through a maritime route organised by Cyprus, the UAE and the EU reached a makeshift jetty in Gaza carrying 200 tonnes of supplies.

A second ship has been loaded and was expected to set sail yesterday, but bad weather delayed its departure, said US food charity World Central Kitchen.

The US will soon be joining the maritime aid effort, with army engineers helping to build a floating pier. Gaza currently lacks a functioning port able to handle aid deliveries.

Israel has faced growing international pressure to speed up the process of approving aid lorries to cross into Gaza