War cabinet bars humanitarian aid from entering Gaza from Israel until Hamas releases hostages

By Jacob Magid

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18 October 2023, 5:52 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on September 27, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90/File)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announces that in light of the “overwhelming and vital” support from the United States and in light of US President Joe Biden’s demand for basic humanitarian aid to be able to reach Gaza, Israel’s war cabinet has decided the following:

1. Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid to be delivered from its territory to the Gaza Strip until the hostages being held by terror groups are returned.

2. Israel demands that the International Red Cross be able to visit the hostages and will work to mobilize international support for this demand.

3. Israel will not thwart humanitarian supplies from reaching Gaza from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip. Any supplies that reach Hamas will be blocked by Israel.

The decisions still need to be approved by the full cabinet.