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Israel to Allow 100 Trucks of Humanitarian Aid into Gaza Daily
(Times of Israel) Jacob Magid - Israel has agreed to allow 100 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza each day following intensive diplomatic engagement by the Biden administration, a U.S. official said Monday. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said, "We've amped up a lot of humanitarian assistance. I know you're going to see a big increase in humanitarian assistance in the next two or three days." In Israel, many have argued that no humanitarian aid should be allowed in Gaza unless Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad release the hundreds of Israeli hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7. Israeli officials have said that enhancing the amount of aid in southern Gaza will further convince civilians to move out of the north, and also give Israel more diplomatic breathing room to continue its military campaign. The Prime Minister's Office said the aid is food and medicine that is physically checked by Israeli security services before it enters. "All of the deliveries are designated for the civilian population - if it comes to light that they are being taken by Hamas, they will stop." State Department spokesperson Matt Miller agreed with the Israeli position on the delivery of fuel into Gaza. He said, "Hamas continues to maintain extensive fuel reserves. Rather than provide that fuel to hospitals or aid workers or for other civilian needs, however, it continues to hoard it for the benefit of its fighters and to carry out its terrorist attacks against Israel."