Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has criticized an Israeli plan to take over the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip at hubs controlled by the Israeli army. Egeland said, “We cannot and will not do something which is fundamentally against humanitarian principles.”
“The United Nations agencies, all other international humanitarian groups and NGOs have said no to be part of this idea coming from the Israeli cabinet and from the Israeli military.”
Jan Egeland
Egeland asserted that the Israeli government wanted to “militarise, manipulate, politicise the aid by allowing only aid to a few concentration hubs in the south, a scheme where people will be screened where it’s a completely inoperable system.”
“That would force people to move to get aid, and it would continue the starvation of the civilian population. We will have no part in that. If one side in a bitter armed conflict tries to control, manipulate, ration aid among the civilians on the other side, it is against everything we stand for.”
Jan Egeland
The Israeli plan comes as Israel’s blockade of all food deliveries enters its ninth week.
Also, Gaza’s Government Media Office categorically rejected “the malicious Israeli plan to distribute aid through it, as an occupying force, which violates humanitarian principles and perpetuates the blockade.”
It said that Israel is seeking to impose a new mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid through centres under the control of its army and subject to arbitrary security conditions.
“This transforms aid from a neutral humanitarian effort into a tool for political blackmail and collective punishment.
“The occupation cannot be a humanitarian mediator; rather, it is the source and instrument of the tragedy. Gaza needs no more promises, but rather an immediate lifting of the blockade, the opening of the crossings, the entry of aid, and the restoration of human dignity, which the occupation violates every hour.”
Gaza’s Government Media Office
Additionally, Hamas rejected the Israeli plan to bypass international aid agencies and distribute supplies directly inside Gaza’s militarised zone.
It said that aid must be handled by competent international or local government organisations, not used as “a tool of political blackmail.”
The group called the proposed Israeli mechanism a violation of international law and “an extension of the policy of starvation and distraction,” accusing Israel of using it to buy time to “commit crimes of genocide.”
Hamas urged the international community not to be “deceived by false occupation narratives” and to push for an immediate lifting of the blockade, allowing the flow of food and medical aid under UN supervision and free of military or political interference.
Ben-Gvir Opposes Aid For Gaza
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir reiterated his staunch opposition to any aid entering Gaza after Israel’s cabinet approved a plan for the military to take over humanitarian relief deliveries.
“The only aid that should enter Gaza is aid for voluntary migration. As long as there are hostages no food, no electricity, and no other aid should be allowed – neither by the [Israeli military] nor by civil society.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir
Also, far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich stated that Israel will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip even if there is another hostage deal is reached.
“We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation.’ We are finally taking control of all humanitarian aid, so that it does not become supplies for Hamas. We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the Strip, returning the hostages — and defeating Hamas.”
Bezalel Smotrich
He asserted that the only way to release the hostages is to “subdue Hamas,” adding, “Any retreat will bring about the next October 7.”
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