The Israeli military claimed there were “logistical constraints” to getting aid into Gaza, and urged the “international community to find additional solutions,” at a time when global bodies warn of the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari insisted in a video statement on Wednesday that “our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. We are sending aid to Gaza, to the people of Gaza. We are not a bottleneck.”
“On the contrary,” Hajari said, “we are examining a larger number of aid trucks than can enter Gaza.” “There are logistical constraints and challenges imposed by the ability of international organizations to distribute aid. That is why we urge the international community to find additional solutions for distributing aid, in addition to establishing field hospitals and temporary shelters for Gaza residents.”
Officials from the World Health Organization visited several hospitals across Gaza on Monday, detailing “harrowing accounts” of the suffering shared by health workers and patients as the conflict expands.
Food and health crises also swept the enclave Humanitarian workers struggle to obtain adequate resources For the displaced people of Gaza.
Hajari reiterated in his video statement that “defeating Hamas is the only option,” after Israeli officials warned that the war would continue for several months.
Hajari said, “We will continue our important mission, which is to defeat Hamas and rescue our hostages. We are committed to liberating our hostages from Hamas and liberating Gaza from Hamas for the sake of a better future for the region.”
Tensions between Israel and the United Nations: The IDF spokesman's comments come after Israel announced that it would automatically stop granting entry visas to UN employees, adding that the country would instead process applications on a case-by-case basis.
Israeli government spokesman Elon Levy described this announcement as “an update on the deeply problematic involvement of the United Nations in this conflict,” and noted that the United Nations had failed to condemn Hamas for kidnapping aid and waging war from hospitals.
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