Israel said it had resumed aid shipments to the Gaza Strip amid rising international pressure and many warnings about widespread hunger in the Palestinian territory on July 26 (local time).
In the latest announcement, the Israeli military said the releases were coordinated with international aid organizations and included 7 packages containing flour, sugar and canned foods. Sources from Palestine confirmed that aid has begun to be dispatched to the northern Gaza area.
Along with that, the Israeli military also announced that it would establish a hanistic corridor to facilitate the safe movement of UN convoys, and at the same time implement temporary humanitarian stops in densely populated areas. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the measures would be applied on the morning of July 27, but did not provide further details.
The new move comes after indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Hamas movement failed to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, the international community and relief organizations have warned that hunger is spreading among the 2.2 million people in Gaza.
The United Nations said relief work was struggling due to restrictions imposed by Israel, even after the country reopened aid channels in May, but with strict conditions.
Israel has denied allegations of hunger deaths in Gaza. In the announcement, the military said: "There is no hunger in the Gaza Strip; this is a misinformation campaign initiated by Hamas".
Israel believes that the responsibility for distributing food belongs to the United Nations and international organizations, and requires these parties to improve operational efficiency as well as ensure that aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas.
Although the humanitarian steps were announced, the Israeli military affirmed that combat operations have not ended. Previously, an aid ship operated by international activists was intercepted by the Israeli naval forces while entering the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the ship was stopped for illegal entry and had now been brought to Israeli shores, all passengers were safe.
The United Nations said on July 24 that the humanitarian holdings would allow increased aid volumes, and complained that Israel had not provided enough alternative routes for aid convoys. The Gaza Ministry of Health said dozens of people have died from malnutrition in recent weeks, including at least 85 children. A total of 127 people have died from hunger since the conflict began nearly two years ago.
The Israeli military also announced that it has connected a power line to a desaltation plant, expected to meet the daily water needs of about 900,000 Gazans.
