The amount of humanitarian aid going into the Gaza Strip will be ramped up in the coming days, Israel’s military said on Sunday, citing new corridors that use an Israeli seaport and border crossings into the Palestinian enclave.
After closing off access to Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7 that set off the war, Israel has since allowed in aid convoys amid growing international pressure to boost the amount of supplies needed to feed Gaza’s 2.3 million people.
A spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel’s Western and Arab partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave, where most are homeless, many face famine, civilian infrastructure is devastated, and disease is widespread.
The United States said earlier this month it welcomed Israel’s latest efforts to allow in more humanitarian aid, but success would be measured by results in improving the situation on the ground.
“Over the last few weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza has significantly increased. In the coming days, the amount of aid going into Gaza will continue to scale up even more,” spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
“Food, water, medical supplies, shelter equipment, and other aid—more of it is going into Gaza than ever before,” Hagari said.
Separately, U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen said it would resume operations in the Gaza Strip on Monday, a month after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli air strike. It also announced that it is naming its new feeding point after the Polish volunteer, Damian Soból.
Hagari said the aid increase is a result of using Israel’s Ashdod port, as well as a new crossing into northern Gaza and increased aid from Jordan entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing at the southern tip of Gaza.
Israel is also working with U.S. Central Command to construct a “temporary maritime pier,” which will allow ship-to-shore distribution, Hagari said.
“Getting aid to the people of Gaza is a top priority—because our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza,” he added.
A spiraling humanitarian crisis has prompted calls from Israel’s Western and Arab partners to do more to facilitate the entry of aid to the enclave, where most are homeless, many face famine, civilian infrastructure is devastated, and disease is widespread.
The United States said earlier this month it welcomed Israel’s latest efforts to allow in more humanitarian aid, but success would be measured by results in improving the situation on the ground.
“Over the last few weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza has significantly increased. In the coming days, the amount of aid going into Gaza will continue to scale up even more,” spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
“Food, water, medical supplies, shelter equipment, and other aid—more of it is going into Gaza than ever before,” Hagari said.
WCK names new feeding point after Polish volunteer“We seek to help alleviate the suffering of the civilians in Gaza that has resulted from the war that Hamas started on October 7, when it massacred and kidnapped Israelis.”
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 28, 2024
🔴Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari discuss the IDF’s ongoing efforts to increase aid going into… pic.twitter.com/ggJMwU5dVb
Separately, U.S.-based charity World Central Kitchen said it would resume operations in the Gaza Strip on Monday, a month after seven of its workers were killed in an Israeli air strike. It also announced that it is naming its new feeding point after the Polish volunteer, Damian Soból.
Hagari said the aid increase is a result of using Israel’s Ashdod port, as well as a new crossing into northern Gaza and increased aid from Jordan entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing at the southern tip of Gaza.
Israel is also working with U.S. Central Command to construct a “temporary maritime pier,” which will allow ship-to-shore distribution, Hagari said.
“Getting aid to the people of Gaza is a top priority—because our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza,” he added.
Source: Reuters, TVP World
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