The Wire

A two week blockade of the Gaza strip by Israeli forces has brought Palestinian civilians to their knees, according to reports by both Amnesty International and Oxfam. Israel closed all boarder entries into Gaza after renewed violence on November 5th. Responding to international calls to open the roads to humanitarian aid, the Israeli army claims they allowed 33 trucks into the strip yesterday, although the UN refugee agency disputes this number. Despite this concession, aid agencies say they need continued and open access to the 1.5 million civilians who live in the strip, in order to alleviate the crisis.