In a move aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip and refuting false claims of deliberate starvation, the IDF announced it would begin a significant overhaul of its aid delivery mechanism starting Saturday night.
At the heart of the initiative is the renewal of an aerial aid drop operation into Gaza, coordinated with international organizations. The operation will include seven pallets containing flour, sugar and canned food. The supplies will be provided by humanitarian groups, while the actual airdrops will be carried out by the Israeli Air Force and the Defense Ministry's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
Simultaneously, Israel decided to designate humanitarian corridors to ensure the safe passage of UN convoys and other aid organizations delivering food and medicine into Gaza. The IDF stressed that its troops are prepared to pause operations in specific areas with high concentrations of civilians, even as combat continues elsewhere against terrorist infrastructure and operatives throughout the Strip.
According to IDF data, more than 250 aid trucks were unloaded in Gaza over the past week alone. These joined hundreds of additional trucks already waiting for pickup and distribution by the UN. Some 600 trucks that had previously entered Gaza have been collected and dispersed across the territory. COGAT continues to coordinate the delivery of undistributed humanitarian aid.
Additionally, the IDF reported that, in line with a decision by Israel's political leadership and in cooperation with the Israel Electric Corporation, the "Kela" power line was reconnected to activate the southern Gaza desalination plant. The plant is expected to produce about 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, up from just 2,000, and will serve some 900,000 residents in southern Gaza.
The IDF reiterated that claims of intentional starvation in Gaza are false and part of a propaganda campaign by the terrorist organization Hamas. "Responsibility for distributing food to residents lies with the UN and international aid agencies," the IDF stated, urging those bodies to operate more efficiently and ensure that aid does not fall into Hamas' hands.
In conclusion, the IDF emphasized, "There is no halt in combat operations. We will continue fighting in the Gaza Strip until all hostages are returned and the Hamas terrorist organization is defeated, above and below ground."
