June 16th 2024.
Jerusalem: On Sunday, the Israeli military made an important announcement regarding their ongoing offensive in the southern Gaza Strip. They declared a temporary break in their operations, which they referred to as a 'tactical pause'. This decision was made in order to facilitate the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to the area.
The pause was set to begin at 8am in the Rafah area and would remain in effect until 7pm. This was not a one-time occurrence, as the military stated that these pauses would take place every day until further notice. The main goal of this pause was to allow aid trucks to safely reach the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under Israeli control and serves as the primary entry point for aid. From there, the trucks would then travel on the Salah a-Din highway, a major north-south road, to deliver supplies to other parts of Gaza. The military emphasized that this pause was being coordinated with the United Nations and other international aid agencies.
The Kerem Shalom crossing has been facing significant challenges since Israeli ground troops entered Rafah at the beginning of May. As a result, the ongoing military offensive against the Hamas militant group has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Reports from the United Nations have highlighted widespread hunger and the dire situation of hundreds of thousands of people who are on the brink of famine. In response, the international community has called on Israel to take more steps to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.
According to data from the UN Humanitarian Office, known as OCHA, the flow of aid has drastically decreased from an average of 168 trucks per day in April to only 68 trucks per day from May 6 until June 6. This is well below the 500 trucks per day that aid groups say are necessary to meet the needs of the population. Furthermore, as the humanitarian needs in southern Gaza have increased, the flow of aid in that area has decreased. This has led to over 1 million Palestinians fleeing from Rafah to other parts of southern and central Gaza, creating overcrowding and dire living conditions.
COGAT, the Israeli military organization responsible for aid distribution in Gaza, has denied any restrictions on the entry of trucks into the area. They stated that over 8,600 trucks of various kinds, including aid and commercial vehicles, have entered Gaza from all crossings between May 2 and June 13, averaging at 201 trucks per day. However, it has been reported that much of this aid has not reached its final destination due to logistical issues and delays at the crossings.
COGAT spokesperson Shimon Freedman has placed the blame on the United Nations, stating that their cargo has accumulated on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. He claimed that the agencies have not addressed fundamental logistical problems, such as a shortage of trucks. However, the United Nations has denied these allegations, stating that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has made it too dangerous for their trucks to travel to the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is situated near the Israeli border. They also cited other factors, such as the need for Israeli authorization and security concerns, which have slowed down the delivery of aid.
In an effort to address these challenges, a new arrangement has been put in place. This involves providing an 11-hour uninterrupted window each day for aid trucks to move in and out of the Kerem Shalom crossing. This is expected to reduce the need for coordination and ensure a steady flow of aid. However, it is unclear at this time if the Israeli military will provide security for the aid trucks as they travel along the highway.
In conclusion, the Israeli military has announced a tactical pause in their offensive operations in southern Gaza to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid. This decision was made in coordination with the United Nations and other aid agencies in response to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The new arrangement aims to provide a safer and more efficient means of delivering aid to those in need.
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