Israel has announced it will allow a gradual and controlled entry of goods into Gaza. This will be done through local merchants, according to an Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating aid.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said the Israeli cabinet approved a new mechanism. This system aims to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza by allowing supplies through the private sector.
The approved goods include basic food items, baby food, fruits, vegetables, and hygiene products. The goal is to increase aid volumes entering Gaza while reducing reliance on aid collected by the United Nations and other international organizations.
Despite this announcement, it remains unclear how the operation will function given the widespread destruction in Gaza. Palestinian and UN officials have said that Gaza needs approximately 600 aid trucks daily to meet humanitarian needs. Before the war, Israel allowed this number of trucks to enter daily.
Images showing starving Palestinians, including children, have alarmed the global community. Recently, a video released by Hamas showed an emaciated captive, sparking criticism from Western countries.
In response to international pressure, Israel has taken steps to allow more aid into Gaza. These include temporary pauses in fighting in certain areas, approving air drops, and creating protected routes for aid convoys.
The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing many and taking hostages. Since then, Israeli operations have caused significant casualties in Gaza.
Israel and the United States have urged the UN to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US-backed group. However, the UN has expressed concerns about GHF’s neutrality and the impact of its aid distribution model.
Despite challenges, Israel’s new move to allow controlled goods into Gaza aims to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis.
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