UK’s Cameron says ‘arbitrary denials’ by Israeli government blocking Gaza aid
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron says “arbitrary denials by the government of Israel” in addition to lengthy clearance procedures are “the main blockers” of humanitarian aid going into the Gaza Strip.
“I wish this were the case,” he writes in a letter in response to UK lawmaker Alicia Kearns about Israeli claims that any amount of aid arriving at the borders of the besieged enclave can get in.
“It is of enormous frustration that UK aid for Gaza has been routinely held up waiting for Israeli permissions. For instance, I am aware of some UK-funded aid being stuck at the border for just under three weeks waiting for approval.”
Cameron says that he remains “gravely concerned” about the lingering Israeli blocks, and that he has consistently raised the issue with top Israeli officials with no tangible results.
Grateful to @David_Cameron for such clarity in his response to my letter. He confirms, contrary to some claims:
- The UN has NOT requested the Kerem Shalom crossing be closed on Saturdays. Israel closes it due to the Sabbath.
- Aid not getting into Gaza due to “arbitrary… https://t.co/DTP0Vl5Ohz pic.twitter.com/cvrmdwRhOi
— Alicia Kearns (@aliciakearns) March 21, 2024
Israel says UN aid agencies to blame for bottleneck on Gaza aid
The Israeli government is again blaming the UN and its distribution arms for an acute shortage of aid within the Gaza Strip even as it faces international criticism for hampering the delivery of life-saving supplies to Palestinians amid its war.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office claims 208 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the strip today, two-thirds of which carried food, with the rest taking water, medical supplies and shelter equipment.
It claims only 155 trucks were distributed by UN aid agencies within the Gaza Strip.
Israel contradicts UK on shutting Gaza aid over the Sabbath
In a letter to a British lawmaker we reported on earlier, UK Foreign Minister David Cameron discussed why Israel completely shut down the crucial Karem Abu Salem crossing with Gaza – called Kerem Shalom by Israel – on Saturdays. “I can confirm that the UN has not requested that the Kerem Shalom crossing is closed on Saturdays. It is our understanding that Israel closes it due to the Sabbath,” he wrote.
But the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) – the Israeli government organisation tasked with clearing and distributing aid – is undermining the statement by one of its main allies.
It continues to state an “agreement with the UN” allows the closure – even as Palestinians starve – in order to allow the UN to collect aid “accumulated” on borders because of low capacity. “Coordinate more aid to Gaza. We will facilitate,” COGAT says, as international criticism of its restrictions on life-saving aid surges.
Facilitate by firing on the police and local tribes helping to distribute the aid.
Facilitate by shelling aid distribution points.
Facilitate by bombing aid warehouses.
Facilitate by sending trucks back for arbitrary reasons like medical scissors, anesthetics or simply because stuff is packed in wooden crates.
