The Israeli authorities permitted the entry of food aid through the northern crossing into Gaza, marking the first instance of such assistance since the onset of the war on the sector on October 7th.
Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, confirmed on Friday the delivery of several trucks loaded with food supplies into Gaza through the northern crossing, following a thorough inspection by the Israeli military.
Adraee mentioned, “This is part of efforts to increase the pathways for humanitarian aid into the sector, specifically its northern part.”
He noted that “the trucks underwent strict security inspection by the security bodies affiliated with the Land Crossings Authority in the Ministry of Defense at the Kerem Shalom crossing, escorted by army forces.”
In related news, an Israeli parliamentarian stated on Friday that “it is impossible to remove Hamas from Gaza without controlling the sector.”
The Israeli radio station “Reshet Bet” quoted Knesset member Amit Halevi saying, “It is impossible for the Israeli military to remove Hamas from Gaza without actual control over the sector.”
Halevi, a member of the ruling Likud party, emphasized the necessity of Israeli military control over the Philadelphia Corridor and over Palestinian aid, civilians, and life essentials in the sector, such as fuel.
Amit Halevi further remarked that Israel should not have allowed Palestinians to attack the Gaza envelope, as per his statement.
The Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have continued since October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Hamas movement, which controls the sector, initiated “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”; launching thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and infiltrating Israeli towns near the sector, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths, mostly settlers, and the capture of about 250 others.
Israel responded by formally declaring war on the Gaza Strip, initiating a destructive bombardment followed by ground military operations within the sector.
To date, the Israeli attack on Gaza has resulted in approximately 34,000 deaths and over 76,000 injuries, primarily among children and women, according to hospital reports, while more than 7,000 individuals remain missing under the rubble caused by continuous bombing across the sector.
All areas of the Gaza Strip are experiencing a significant crisis in water and food supply, due to the Israeli military’s destruction of infrastructure and desalination lines and stations.
The UN has warned of the implications of the hunger crisis affecting Gaza’s residents amid the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.