Israel says it won’t block humanitarian aid entering Gaza from Egypt

Tel Aviv: The Israeli government has said that it would not block humanitarian aid entering the besieged Gaza Strip from Egypt, following pressure from its international allies to allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians in the territory.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday, during a visit from US President Joe Biden.

“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. “Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned.”

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.

Israel has also instituted a complete siege of Gaza, cutting off access to food, water, electricity, and fuel for the strip’s 2.3 million residents.

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.

Nearly 5000 people have been killed since fighting broke out between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, which launched an attack into southern Israel on October 7 that Israeli authorities say killed at least 1400 people, most of them civilians.

Israel says about 4475 were also injured and nearly 200 were taken captive by Hamas.