Critics Challenge Netanyahu's Claims on Aid to Gaza

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a recent interview with CNN that Israel is committed to allowing necessary humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, this claim has been challenged by aid organizations and appears to contradict previous statements made by Netanyahu himself.

During an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Netanyahu tried to redirect the responsibility for aid not reaching Gaza away from his government and towards Hamas. He accused the group of stealing relief supplies.

The prime minister's comments come as Israel faces increased scrutiny over its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The military campaign was initiated in response to Hamas's attacks on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 people being held hostage. Israel asserts that its operation is aimed at targeting Hamas militants rather than innocent Palestinian civilians.

Israel's military actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 31,000 individuals, with more than 70% of them being women and children, as reported by Gaza's health ministry. The ongoing violence has caused extensive damage, forced mass displacement, and worsened the threat of famine in the region.

The United Nations, European Union, and even Israel's longtime ally, the United States, have all condemned Israel's tactics and have urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to permit increased humanitarian aid to reach the besieged population in Gaza.

Netanyahu recently spoke with CNN and discussed his country's aid policy towards Gaza. CNN has analyzed his claims and also included feedback from aid groups regarding these claims.

According to Netanyahu, Israel's policy is to provide as much aid to Gaza as is necessary.

Netanyahu told CNN that their policy is to provide humanitarian support as needed, without allowing famine to occur. This statement contradicts his previous remarks where he mentioned allowing only "minimal humanitarian aid" into Gaza.

"We only offer minimal humanitarian assistance," Netanyahu stated during a press conference in January. He emphasized that providing minimal aid is necessary to achieve the country's war objectives. Additionally, Netanyahu's war strategies have impeded the delivery of aid to those in need.

Photo Illustration by Alberto Mier/CNN/Getty Images/Reuters

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Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza shortly after starting its military operation, cutting off supplies of electricity, food, water, and fuel. Aid finally started coming in, but only in small amounts and through a long and complicated process, according to aid workers and the UN.

Aid workers and officials have noticed a pattern of Israeli obstruction, with the agency in charge of access to Gaza, COGAT, setting arbitrary and confusing criteria for relief entry. One relief worker described the aid delivery process as intentionally unclear and ambiguous.

Save the Children US president and chief executive Janti Soeripto expressed frustration over the complexity of a supply chain that should be simple. She mentioned to CNN that barriers hindering humanitarian assistance have reached unprecedented levels.

UN under-secretary-general Martin Griffiths highlighted the challenges faced by trucks carrying aid, having to pass through three layers of inspection before entering the enclave. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) reported bottlenecks at the Rafah crossing due to long lines for inspection, resulting in a growing list of rejected items labeled as "dual-use" equipment.

Despite requests for Israel to open additional crossings into Gaza, aid is currently limited to just two land crossings - the Rafah crossing with Egypt, and the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel.

Israel actually has a total of six crossings into Gaza, but some of them have not been in operation for more than ten years. Last week, the Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry urged Israel to reopen these crossings.

For months, trucks heading to Gaza have been stuck in long lines along the highway from the Egyptian town of Arish to the Rafah crossing. In a recent satellite image, a line of trucks could be seen stretching for 4 miles from the crossing.

Once aid does arrive, challenges such as Israeli attacks, road damage from airstrikes, communication breakdowns, and large-scale displacement make it difficult to distribute within Gaza.

Israeli forces fired on a UN convoy delivering food supplies in central Gaza last month, preventing the trucks from reaching the northern area. This information was revealed through documents from the UN and CNN's analysis.

Additionally, Israel has taken steps to dismantle UNRWA, the main aid agency responsible for distributing aid in Gaza for many years. Some of its staff have been accused of participating in Hamas' attack on October 7.

Netanyahu lauds ‘alternative supply routes’

Netanyahu said that Israel has created “alternative routes” to deliver aid, including through airdrops, shipments by sea, and “land routes.”

Only two land crossings have been used to deliver aid to Gaza – the Rafah crossing with Egypt, and the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. But volumes are insufficient compared to the scale of suffering.

Israel has, however, tested a pilot program to deliver desperately needed aid to northern Gaza through another border gate, but only six trucks had crossed it as of last Wednesday.

While Israel has permitted airdropped and maritime relief, aid organizations argue that it falls short of addressing the looming famine. They caution that relying solely on these methods could hinder land-based aid deliveries.

To date, only one ship has brought aid to Gaza. This shipment contained enough food to provide one meal for a quarter of the population, which exceeds 2 million people. Loaded with 200 tons of aid, the ship's delivery was equivalent to approximately 10 truckloads of relief supplies.

Volunteers in North Sinai, Egypt, are busy loading food and supplies onto trucks for an aid convoy heading to Gaza. The convoy, organized by a group of Egyptians, started its journey from Cairo and is now making its way towards the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah.

The urgent need for aid arises from a recent escalation of violence in the region. On October 7th, the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on border communities in southern Israel. This attack has led to the most violent flare-up of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. In response, Israel has conducted a vast bombing campaign and has even hinted at the possibility of a ground invasion.

Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images

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Getting aid into Gaza is a slow and complicated process. Currently, there are no functioning ports in Gaza to efficiently receive the aid. However, more shipments are expected in the future.

A joint statement from Amnesty International and 25 other non-governmental organizations was released last week. They urged governments to focus on delivering aid on land, rather than relying solely on airdrops and maritime corridors. The statement emphasized that simply using these methods to appear supportive is not enough to meet the needs in Gaza.

The NGOs also highlighted the dangers of setting harmful precedents that could hinder land-based humanitarian access and prolong conflicts. They warned of the potential devastating consequences that could arise from neglecting the importance of land-based aid deliveries.

Netanyahu says Israel is allowing more trucks in

“The problem is not the number of trucks going in, although we’re increasing it on a daily basis,” Netanyahu said.

Aid groups and the UN have highlighted that the main issue affecting humanitarian aid in Gaza is the limited number of trucks allowed to enter the area because of Israeli restrictions.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, only an average of 95 aid trucks were able to enter Gaza daily between October 10 and February 1. This number is significantly lower compared to the 500 trucks per day that were allowed before the conflict, solely through the Rafah crossing.

Israel is boosting the number of trucks entering Gaza daily, according to Netanyahu. In March, there was an increase in truck traffic, but the UN has mentioned that the amount of aid being delivered has been inconsistent.

UNRWA stated that during the first half of March, an average of 165 aid trucks crossed into Gaza each day. This number is higher than the usual 95 trucks per day, but it is still far below the necessary 500 trucks per day.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini last month said that the volume of aid into Gaza halved between January and February.

Netanyahu claims Hamas is looting trucks

Netanyahu stated in an interview with CNN on Sunday that Hamas is hindering aid deliveries and stealing incoming aid. However, Israel has not presented any evidence to support this allegation.

The UN and other aid organizations have confirmed that some of their aid trucks were looted, but they have not assigned blame for these incidents. The looting is believed to be a result of severe hunger and the collapse of social order.

The World Food Programme (WFP) stopped providing aid in northern Gaza because of safety worries, mentioning the presence of "complete chaos and violence caused by the breakdown of civil order."

In an attempt to bring a 14-truck food convoy earlier this month, the WFP was denied entry by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint after waiting for three hours, as reported by the WFP.

The agency reported that after being turned away, the trucks were rerouted. Later, they were stopped by a large crowd of desperate people who looted the food. Approximately 200 tons of food were taken from the trucks.

Previous reporting by CNN’s journalists included Tamara Qiblawi, Allegra Goodwin, Nima Elbagir, Caroline Faraj, Kareem Khadder, Barbara Arvanitidis, Mark Baron, Alessia Tinti, Mary Rogers, Alex Platt, Abeer Salman, Katie Polglase, Muhammad Darwish, Celine Alkhaldi, and Niamh Kennedy.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding humanitarian aid delivery to the besieged Gaza Strip. Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu's claims of Israel's commitment to allowing necessary aid, evidence suggests otherwise. The Israeli government's restrictions on the number of trucks entering Gaza, coupled with accusations of aid theft by Hamas without providing substantial proof, raise concerns about the true extent of Israel's cooperation.

The article also sheds light on the devastating impact of Israel's military campaign on Gaza. The deaths of thousands of civilians, including women and children, and the widespread destruction have created an urgent need for humanitarian assistance. However, the slow and complicated process of delivering aid, compounded by Israeli attacks and road damage, makes it difficult to meet the needs of the population. The suspension of aid by the World Food Programme due to safety concerns further exacerbates the situation. innocent civilians. The international community must demand that Israel lift the blockade and allow the free flow of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.