Gallant: Gaza aid is important, while we work to destroy Hamas and release the hostages

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew toured the IDF’s new Humanitarian Coordination and Deconfliction Cell, which was established earlier this week as part of a series of steps to improve the situation of Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing war there.

“As we work to achieve the goals of this war, namely the destruction of Hamas and the return of the hostages, we recognize the importance of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Gallant says during the tour.

According to a Defense Ministry statement, Gallant and Lew were briefed on “measures being taken to increase the effective inspection, transfer and distribution of humanitarian aid.”

The statement adds that the humanitarian coordination cell was established in order to “enable key partners to work closely in order to facilitate the delivery of aid in a manner that will enable the IDF to continue operating against Hamas terrorism, while also ensuring the security of aid workers.”

Gallant also says Israel is working closely with the US to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of looming famine.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the US administration for their longstanding support during this war, and for their leadership on the humanitarian issue as it pertains both to the hostage issue and to aid being delivered to Gaza,” he says.