UN appears to dismiss Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas is stealing aid
UN spokesperson Dujarric says agencies working on the ground in Gaza have not reported that Hamas is stealing humanitarian assistance entering the territory, as claimed by Netanyahu.
The Israeli prime minister had said that his country is blocking aid to Gaza “because Hamas steals the supplies and prevents the people of Gaza from getting them”.
But Dujarric told reporters that the aid was actually reaching people.
Asked about Netanyahu’s claims, Dujarric said: “None of that has been reported back here by our colleagues on the ground. We have seen, since the ceasefire, there is a much freer and more direct flow aid, and we have not seen any of the looting that we had seen prior to the ceasefire.”
Spain calls for ‘immediate’ resumption of aid to Gaza
The Spanish Foreign Ministry has urged progress towards a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
“The government demands the immediate resumption of the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is an international obligation, and essential and urgent in view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The government reiterates its strong condemnation of terrorism and demands the release of all Israeli hostages, reiterating its support for the mediation efforts.”
Israel has halted all humanitarian assistance to Gaza after refusing to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which was supposed to lead to a lasting end to the war.
Instead, Israel has called for extending the first stage of the deal to release more Israeli captives without committing to a permanent ceasefire – a proposal that Hamas has rejected.
US liberal Zionist group urges Netanyahu to return to ceasefire deal
J Street, a prominent US-based advocacy group that describes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace, has criticised the Israeli government’s decision to block humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
“Netanyahu’s decision to halt aid to Gaza will be devastating. For Palestinians just starting to pick up the pieces, for Israeli hostages longing for release, and for the state itself, already facing legal disputes on the world stage,” J Street said in a social media post.
“Back to the deal. Resume relief.”
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