THE United Nations has delivered food aid to northern Gaza for the first time in two weeks, the world body’s humanitarian agency said yesterday, warning that the situation there is “desperate.”

Israel’s ground and air offensive continues in the area, and there have been many civilian casualties in recent days, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA aid workers said they hoped that 30 more lorries of food aid would enter northern Gaza by the end of yesterday.

While distribution points are still working in some areas, the Jabalia refugee camp remains impossible to reach because of an ongoing Israeli military offensive.

On Monday night, the Israeli military body managing crossings into Gaza said that it had allowed in 30 lorries carrying flour and food from the World Food Programme, following reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to starve out the devastated coastal territory by blocking humanitarian aid supplies.

The reported deliveries ended a two-week stretch in which aid levels dropped off completely, according to the UN.

OCHA lead Georgios Petropoulos said: “The situation is desperate.

“We have no shelter supplies, very little food and zero assurances from Israel on getting anything into Jabalia, where more than 100,000 people are trapped.”

The UN has said that about 400,000 Palestinians remain in northern Gaza.

Tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes in the Jabalia area, while others remain stranded amid increasing bombardment and fighting.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said yesterday that 55 people had been killed in the last 24 hours, with 329 more injured.

Its figure for the total number of deaths since October 7 last year has now hit 42,344, with 99,013 wounded, though the true toll is almost certainly far higher.

The UN has condemned the “large number of civilian casualties” caused by Israeli strikes on northern Gaza in recent days.

The comments came as at least 10 people were reportedly killed by Israeli artillery fire at a food distribution centre at Jabalia.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said shells had hit the centre on Monday as some people were trying to pick up food handouts.

The Israeli military said it was reviewing the incident, claiming that it operates “only against terror targets.”

The US administration said yesterday that an advanced team of military personnel and equipment had arrived in Israel to protect its ally from missile attacks.

More US personnel are expected to arrive in the coming days to operate the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system.

US President Joe Biden said it was meant “to defend Israel” amid tensions with Iran.

British doctor Ana Jeelani, who works in hospitals in Gaza with Medical Aid for Palestinians, called the situation “horrific,” telling the BBC: “I don’t think any pictures can do it justice.”

Dr Jeelani said Israeli authorities had limited the amount of medical supplies her team could take into Gaza.

At one particular hospital,  she said, there are “no gowns” available, meaning that “sterile gloves” were the only sanitary protection.

Despite the World Health Organisation announcing a second round of polio vaccinations in Gaza, Dr Jeelani said it was still difficult to administer the jabs.

“It baffles me how we’re talking about a polio vaccination campaign when actually what the children of Gaza need … is a ceasefire,” she said.