From the Liveblog of
Saturday, October 21, 2023
IDF says there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
An Israeli security official says there is currently no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as the military continues to order Palestinians to move south.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, some 700,000 people of the estimated 1.1 million population of northern Gaza have evacuated south in recent days.
“As of now, I can tell you that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. There are hardships in moving people within days to the south of the Gaza Strip, but the population is getting along,” the official tells reporters.
“There is no shortage of water in Gaza, there is enough food for the coming weeks, this is in addition to the supply of medicines which, as far as we know, there is no shortage in the hospitals,” he continues.
He says Hamas is still trying to prevent people from moving south.
Meanwhile, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari in a press conference says food, water and medical aid will enter the southern part of Gaza via Egypt’s Rafah crossing.
“Fuel will not enter Gaza,” Hagari says.
Hagari says the IDF “will continue strikes on Hamas strongholds in northern Gaza.”
