Gaza Strip: The Government Operations Room for Emergency Interventions in the Southern Governorates (Gaza Strip) rejected on Wednesday Israel's claims on opening Gaza crossings for humanitarian aid as baseless.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Government Operations Room stated in a press release that the Israeli occupation authorities' assertions of having opened Gaza border crossings to permit aid into the Strip are completely unfounded. The statement highlights that Israel has continued to keep the crossings closed for the 83rd consecutive day, contradicting their claims of facilitating humanitarian and medical aid into the region.
The Government Operations Room condemned the continued closure of Gaza crossings and emphasized that all aid trucks remain stranded, being denied entry into the Strip. This situation starkly contrasts with Israel's claims that humanitarian aid is being allowed into the area. The statement further accuses Israel of deliberately delaying the entry of aid trucks as part of a new scheme to exclude UN humanitarian agencies and militarize aid.
The statement also revealed that several logistic companies have proposed to UN humanitarian agencies the transportation of aid to Gaza. These companies have stipulated that aid be handed over to specific entities for a fee of over 130,000 shekels (approximately $34,000) per truckload.
Urgently, the Government Operations Room called upon the international community and UN institutions to intervene, not only to end the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza but also to halt the Israeli genocidal war. They emphasized the critical need to save the lives of innocent civilians facing imminent death risks due to medicine shortages and limited hospital functionality in the Strip.
The Operations Room stressed that humanitarian aid should only be allowed entry into the enclave via UN institutions. They cautioned against the severe repercussions of Israel's policy of utilizing water and starvation as warfare tactics, which are exacerbating disease outbreaks and malnutrition in the region.
