The German government observes a "initial slight progress in humanitarian aid for the population in the Gaza Strip," according to spokesman Stefan Kornelius on Saturday, though he noted it remains insufficient to alleviate the emergency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied starvation is happening in Gaza. But aid groups, doctors and UN data point to a deepening hunger crisis.

T he announcement was an admission of failure. On July 26th the Israel Defence Forces ( IDF) said that it would parachute food into Gaza and implement daily “humanitarian pauses” in parts of the still depopulated areas of the devastated strip, allowing international aid organisations to bring in convoys.