Food and medicine prevented from entering Gaza over accusations of 'dual military use': Report

Frustrated humanitarian aid drivers and UN officials criticised the obstacles they are facing transporting food and medicine into Gaza after they were turned back at the border with Egypt by Israel on Sunday, according to a report by Reuters.

The news agency interviewed seven aid officials and three truck drivers on Monday, who said they faced obstacles such as "rejection of shipments for minor packing and paperwork issues," "heavy scrutiny over possible dual military use for a range of goods," and "short working hours at the Israeli border crossing".

A World Health Organisation (WHO) employee working at the Rafah border told Reuters their cargo was blocked for carrying "illegal medicines".

Reuters verified that they saw vehicles with WHO's blue logos, and labels describing contents like topical medications and suction devices to clean wounds.

Reuters said it asked the Israeli military authority in charge of coordinating aid into Gaza about why the vehicles were not let into Gaza and did not receive a respose.