Shelter materials are still not entering Gaza, aid groups say

Israel has said it will let shelter materials into Gaza; aid groups say they are still waiting for the deliveries; many Palestinians displaced several times during war

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International aid groups say they have not yet been able to deliver shelter materials to Gaza despite Israeli authorities saying they have lifted restrictions on such supplies, and warn that further delays could cause more Palestinian deaths.

Aid organisations say Israel had in effect been blocking the delivery of materials for shelters for nearly six months, with tent poles previously listed among items Israeli authorities considered could have a military as well as civilian use.

With international concern over the plight of Palestinians mounting as the war in Gaza continues, Israel announced measures last month to let more aid into Gaza and said on Saturday that it would start allowing shelter materials in from the next day.

But officials from five aid groups, including UN agencies, told Reuters that shelter materials needed by large numbers of displaced Palestinians were still not reaching Gaza and blamed Israeli bureaucratic hurdles.

"The United Nations and our partners have not been able to bring in shelter materials following the Israeli announcement," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), spokesperson Jens Laerke said.