Occupied Al-Quds: Israel announced on Wednesday that it would permit the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt, focusing on “food, water, and medicine.”
This decision was made in response to a request from US President Joe Biden, as confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Israel emphasised that the aid must not reach Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza.
However, Israel maintained that it would not provide the aid directly from its own territory until Hamas released dozens of hostages taken during a major attack on October 7, which subsequently escalated into full-scale conflict.
The Israeli statement highlighted the demand for Red Cross visits with the captives and sought broad international support for this requirement.
Gaza has been under a severe Israeli-led blockade since Hamas took control in 2007, resulting in shortages of essential supplies like water, fuel, and food.
The situation further deteriorated after Israel sealed off the territory following the October 7 attack.
This announcement coincided with President Biden’s recent visit to Israel, during which he reaffirmed US support for the country and endorsed Israel’s assertion that Palestinian militants were responsible for a deadly rocket strike on a Gaza hospital.
The Israeli government has said that it will not prevent humanitarian aid from entering the blockaded Gaza Strip from Egypt, following pressure from its international allies to ease its 10-day siege on the Palestinian territory.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday as US President Joe Biden wrapped up a flying visit to the country.
“In light of President Biden’s demand, Israel will not thwart humanitarian supplies from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population in the southern Gaza Strip,” the statement reads.
The decision follows mounting international pressure, including from the United States, calling for humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of residents have been displaced amid constant Israeli air strikes.
Since the attack, Israel has bombarded Gaza from the air in a devastating campaign that has reduced entire neighourhoods to rubble.
Palestinian authorities have said that more than 3,400 people have been killed and more than 12,000 others wounded in the Israeli assault.
It remains unclear when aid will begin to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which Egypt says has been damaged by Israeli air strikes.
The announcement comes after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 471 people and wounded hundreds of others, according to Palestinian officials.
While Biden said he was working to secure an “unprecedented” package of security assistance for Israel, he also warned Israel about its response to the Hamas attack.
“I caution this while you feel that rage: don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11 we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes,” said Biden, adding that Israel should seek “clarity about the objectives and an honest assessment of whether the path you’re on will achieve those objectives”.
Biden also said the US would provide $100m in humanitarian assistance for the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
