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SvennoJ on 16 February 2025
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Netanyahu blocks entry of mobile homes, equipment into Gaza: Report

Israeli broadcaster Kan, citing an anonymous political source, is reporting that Netanyahu has decided to block the entry of mobile homes and heavy machinery into Gaza.

“Following a security consultation chaired by the prime minister, it was decided that the issue of caravans will be discussed in the coming days. Israel is fully coordinating with the United States,” the source was quoted as saying.

That’s despite the ceasefire agreement stipulating that Israel must allow at least 60,000 temporary homes and 200,000 tents into Gaza during the first 42-day phase. It also must allow entry of an agreed-upon amount of equipment for rubble removal.

Hamas has previously said Israel had so far permitted the entry of 20,000 tents, but none of the mobile homes havde made it past the border with Egypt.

There are now just two weeks left until the end of the first phase.

The move, if confirmed, could again put the fragile ceasefire in Gaza under strain. Hamas had threatened to suspend the release of Israeli captives last week after accusing Israel of delaying the entry of aid – including mobile homes and machinery – into the destroyed enclave, where displaced Palestinians are enduring a harsh winter in makeshift shelters.

But the Palestinian group went ahead with the release as planned on Saturday after mediators obtained from Israel a “promise … to put in place a humanitarian protocol” that would allow construction equipment and temporary housing into the devastated territory, according to AFP.

The Kan report comes after Trump welcomed the latest release of captives, and it is now up to Israel to decide what to do about the ultimatum he had issued to Hamas to release all of the captives held in Gaza by noon on Saturday.

Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting today to discuss Israel’s positions.


Gaza authorities slam Israel for preventing entry of mobile homes, equipment

Gaza’s Government Media Office says Israel’s refusal to allow the delivery of mobile homes and heavy equipment into the enclave is “a clear evasion of its pledges and obligations” in the ceasefire with Hamas.

“[It] is an explicit declaration of its failure to the agreement,” a statement by the office said on Telegram.

The statement said Palestinian groups in Gaza confirmed that they would “abide by their pledges in it as long as the occupation is committed” to the deal.

It added: “This [Israeli] refusal shows the whole world who is the party obstructing the agreement, which requires the guarantor mediators to intervene and pressure the occupation to fulfill what it signed.”

As we previously reported, an Israeli political source told the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corp (Kan) that Netanyahu has refused to allow the entry of aid trucks carrying mobile homes and heavy equipment into the enclave after security consultations with authorities on Saturday  night.

Netanyahu’s move comes after Trump said on Saturday that Israel will have to decide what to do about an expired deadline for Hamas to release all the Israeli captives held in Gaza.

Kan’s unnamed source said the US president wants to change the agreement with Hamas so all the captives will be released together, earlier than the date set for phase two of the ceasefire. That phase has yet to be negotiated.