Israel halts aid to northern Gaza
Israel on Thursday put a stop to emergency aid entering northern Gaza.
This was reported by two officials to the Reuters news agency.
Emergency aid will continue to be allowed to enter from the south.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the militant group Hamas of stealing emergency aid late Wednesday. This was announced in a joint press release with Defense Minister Israel Katz. They referred to new, unspecified information indicating that Hamas was seizing aid that was otherwise intended for civilians. The same day, a video of masked men - some with rifles - standing on top of aid trucks began circulating on social media. Netanyahu and Katz have asked the Israeli military to come up with a plan within two days to stop Hamas from stealing aid. According to Reuters, local clan leaders say that the video is of men protecting aid - not Hamas stealing it. The Financial Times also reports that Israel has stopped aid to northern Gaza. It will be a temporary stop for two days, an official said.
International organizations have long warned of widespread hunger and a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The situation in northern Gaza is particularly bad, as only a very small proportion of UN-led aid deliveries are allowed to enter, writes the Financial Times.
The US- and Israeli-backed organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which distributes aid in southern and central Gaza, says it is exempt from the stop.
The organization has been criticized by the UN and other aid organizations for not being neutral and for bypassing the normal aid system in Gaza - as well as for not being sufficiently prepared.
There have been several chaotic situations and shooting incidents at GHF distribution points.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach aid, says the Gaza Health Ministry. Palestinians have said that shots have been fired into desperate crowds.
The military has said on several occasions that warning shots have been fired at suspicious individuals.
/ritzau/Reuters
