The Israeli army announced this Thursday “new stage” in “humanitarian operations” in the Gaza Strip which includes a series of measures aimed at increasing to “nearly 500” the number of aid trucks entering the enclave daily, which has been under military attack for more than six months.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari noted in a video released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that Israel has “cooperated with countries and international organizations around the world.” develop new and improved measures to increase the flow of aid to Gaza civilians by land, sea and air.”

“Israel continues to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. and find new ways to intensify these efforts,” he said, before emphasizing that “these new measures will allow more aid and trucks destined for Gaza to enter from abroad, including through the land crossing with Jordan, through which they are expected to pass. 50 trucks with help every day.”

“We worked with international partners to deliver additional aid via sea from the port of Ashdod, from where it will be transported to Gaza,” Hagari said, stating that Israel is “building the northern crossing as a new passage from Israel to the northern Gaza Strip to allow more aid to be delivered directly to civilians in areas where there have been access problems trucks.” “

Thus, he argued that “this combination of new measures means that the average number of trucks carrying food, water, medicine and shelter into Gaza per day is expected to increase.” gradually increase from 350 per day to about 500 per day.”amid complaints from the UN and non-governmental organizations against Israel due to restrictions on aid delivery.

“All of these efforts are driven by close coordination with international partners and humanitarian organizations to maximize our joint humanitarian efforts,” he said, while emphasizing that Israel cooperates with the US Central Command (CENTCOM). “Build a temporary floating port on the coast of the Gaza Strip to allow aid to reach Gaza directly by sea.”

“These humanitarian efforts demonstrate depth of strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and the shared values ​​of our countries,” Hagari said, adding that “airdrops of aid into Gaza also continue,” with “more than 3,600 packages of food and essential goods coordinated in 62 airdrops from multiple countries.” .

For this reason, Hagari stated that “since October 7, the IDF has been fighting the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas continues to hold 133 hostages and use Gazans as human shields.” and claims that “coordinating” aid delivery to the sector is “complicated, and made even more difficult by Hamas shelling, even on (humanitarian) convoys.”

Thus, Hagari assured that Israel is “working with international organizations to resolve the problems of aid distribution inside Gaza,” including “applying the lesson learned from the tragic incident with the WCK organization”in connection with the death of seven employees of the organization as a result of Israeli explosions in the Gaza Strip.

Hagari insisted that this work be done “Maximize the protection of humanitarian workers and expand cooperation with international organizations,” while stating that the IDF “confirmed operational procedures regarding aid convoys and aid workers” with “all” forces involved in the offensive.

“Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza. “Providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip is a key part of all our operations,” he reiterated. “This means we can intensify our efforts to return all our hostages and eliminate the terrorist organization Hamas,” he said.

In a different order he referred to the recent withdrawal of troops from the city of Khan Yunis (south), although he insisted that the decision “allows” Israel to “prepare for future operations” in the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats regarding ground offensive on Rafah, on the border with Egypt.

“The troops fighting Hamas in its stronghold in Khan Younis have completed their mission and left Khan Younis. This allows us to prepare for future operations to further dismantle Hamas. and it also allows Gazans who moved from Khan Younis to Rafah to return to Khan Younis,” he said.

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“We are working on creating new field hospitals, water, infrastructure, food and shelter in areas of central Gaza,” he said amid rumors that Israel is preparing a new evacuation of forcibly displaced people in Rafah to other areas so it can launch an offensive.

Finally, he promised that “the IDF They will continue to do everything possible to bring the abductees home and defeat Hamas.“And also ensure that maximum humanitarian aid reaches Gaza for the people of Gaza.”

(according to information from Europe Press)