Gaza (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israel announced it will permit the gradual and controlled entry of goods into Gaza via local merchants, according to an Israeli military agency responsible for aid coordination. This comes as international monitors warn of a famine developing in the enclave, affecting the hostages held by Hamas.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is under Israel’s Ministry of Defence, stated that the cabinet has adopted a mechanism to expand the humanitarian aid process, as supplies can be sent to Gaza through the private sector.
What items are included in the approved aid list?
The agency stated that the approved items consist of basic food, baby food, fruits and vegetables, and hygiene supplies.
“This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations,”
It also said.
Israel announced measures last week to increase aid to Gaza, including temporarily stopping fighting in some areas for part of each day, air drops, and allowing legally protected routes for aid convoys, even as global condemnation grows.
What are the challenges impeding aid distribution in Gaza?
The viability of this aid operation remains unclear, given the massive destruction in Gaza. Palestinian and U.N. officials estimate about 600 aid trucks will be required daily to meet humanitarian needs, equivalent to what Israel allowed into Gaza before the war.
Recent weeks have seen images of starving Palestinians, including children, alarming the world, while a video released by Hamas on Sunday showing a gaunt captive faced sharp criticism from Western powers.
Hamas stated they would work with the Red Cross on delivering aid to hostages in Gaza, on the condition that Israel opens humanitarian corridors, and the second condition is to cease air attacks while aid is being distributed.
Why did the U.N. reject the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?
In May, Israel and the United States called on the U.N. to collaborate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organisation they support. This foundation utilises a U.S. logistics company operated by a former CIA officer and armed U.S. veterans.
The U.N. declined to support GHF, questioning its neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarising aid and causing displacement. Palestinians were killed close to GHF sites where aid was limited, with the U.N. estimating that Israeli forces killed over 1,000 food-seeking individuals since May, most near the organisation’s distribution centres.
How deadly has the conflict become for Palestinians?
The Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, Israeli authorities said. According to Gaza health officials, Israel’s military operations have left more than 60,000 Palestinians dead, and Palestinian officials often do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Israeli officials state that there are 50 hostages still in Gaza, with only approximately 20 believed to be alive. Hamas has yet to allow humanitarian organisations safe access to the hostages, leaving families with little or no information about their loved one’ condition.
