The resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza was part of a US promise to Hamas as part of the deal for Edan Alexander’s release, Yisrael Hayom reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The report follows Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s controversial decision on Sunday to resume the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Hamas had said that it released Alexander as a “goodwill gesture” during President Trump’s visit to the Middle East but according to the sources, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff directly committed to Hamas leaders that the US would pressure Israel to immediately resume aid to Gaza.
Israel had promised not to resume aid to Gaza until the IDF’s new distribution centers were operational in order to prevent Hamas from commandeering the aid. However, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the aid will be “temporarily” delivered by international organizations [i.e, the UN].
At this point, all factors acknowledge that Hamas will seize a significant portion of the aid. The report quoted an Israeli official as saying that Washington is aware of the issue but considers the arrangement a “necessary evil” to maintain support for Israel’s military operation.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded to the report: “The report is entirely false. There is no connection between the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of Edan Alexander.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Despite their “independence day” celebrations – Israel is NOT an independent state!
So the assumed friend and ally of Israel negotiated with the terrorists apparently without conferring with them.
The humanitarian aid trucks should be prepared and ready to roll in but will only move forward when the captured hostages who have been cruel mistreated are freed. An aid truck for every release.