A surge in truckloads is bringing desperately needed food to the besieged Palestinian enclave after months of halting deliveries.

Israel has occupied the West Bank of the Jordan River, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state, since the 1967 Middle East war. It has built Jewish settlements

The dramatic images of uniform-clad supporters of the Palestinian militant Hamas celebrating the release of the first three Israeli hostages leave Abdullah Abdel Aal unmoved. The 45-year-old, who has lost 40 family members in the Gaza war,