Why are Gazans not getting sorely needed aid?

Gazans are in desperate need of essentials after more than 21 months of war, but efforts to get aid into the Palestinian territory — and to its hungry residents — face major obstacles.

UN agencies and aid organisations cite Israeli restrictions, safety issues and the establishment of a US- and Israeli-backed mechanism that has sidelined the humanitarian system in place.

Israel says international organisations have failed, and that the previous UN-led system had allowed Hamas militants to…