May 18 (UPI) – Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu allowed Palestinians in Gaza to immediately restore humanitarian aid, including food and medicine.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was one of the leaders who opposed the decision, but the security cabinet did not vote on the matter.
“In accordance with the recommendations of the IDF to achieve a fierce battle to expand the fierce struggle, Israel will introduce the population to large quantities of food to ensure that the famine crisis in the Gaza Strip will not develop,” the Prime Minister's office said in a statement obtained by the Jerusalem Post and the Israeli era. “Such a crisis will endanger the continued operation of the 'Character of Gideon's defeat of Hamas.”
He concluded: “Israel will work to deny that Hamas can control the distribution of humanitarian aid to ensure that aid does not reach Hamas terrorists.”
Two senior Israeli officials told the Jerusalem Post that several international organizations will provide assistance until Saturday begins operations.
Walla reported that initial aid organizations include the United Nations World Food Program and the World Central Kitchen as well as the United Arab Emirates.
Israel has been stepping up its air strikes to defeat the radical Hamas and release the hostages. Earlier Sunday, the IDF launched a strike on site, including the last functional hospital in northern Gaza.
More than 100 people died overnight.
Since the ceasefire between Israel and the militant Hamas ended on March 1, Israel has frozen all food, water and medical supplies to an area with an estimated 2.5 million people.
The United Nations said that since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Gaza people faced “dangerous danger” of hunger as the war broke out.
U.S. President Donald Trump has put pressure on Israel to provide assistance in the region. “A lot of people are starving in Gaza,” Trump said on Friday in the United Arab Emirates. “A lot of bad things have happened.”
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said on Wednesday that Israeli government will allow new aid groups to provide aid to Israel
The foundation said it is in the final stage of 300 million meals in the first 90 days. The estimated pre-installation cost per meal is $1.30, including procurement, logistics, distribution and security. Also provided are sanitation kits and medical supplies to “pass through tightly controlled corridors and monitor in real time to prevent transfers.
Since February, not only has the availability of food shorter supply, but the cost has increased significantly. For example, a bag of 55-pound wheat flour now costs between $235 and $520, with prices rising 3,000% in three months. ”
