Israel confirms deal with EU to boost Gaza aid: ‘More trucks, more crossings, and more routes’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addresses the recently announced agreement between Israel and the European Union to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, confirming the EU’s earlier statement that the Israeli government has passed resolutions on the initiative.

“Following our dialogue with the EU, our security cabinet made further decisions on Sunday to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” says Sa’ar, speaking at a joint press conference with his Austrian and German counterparts in Vienna.

The resolutions “include more trucks, more crossings, and more routes for the humanitarian efforts,” Sa’ar continues.

He thanks Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul “for the fruitful dialogue that we are conducting — with you and the EU — on the humanitarian issue.”

The discussions are “based on an understanding of human needs and of the threat that Hamas and the Gaza Strip have posed to Israel over the past 20 years,” adds Sa’ar, saying, “this dialogue is important and it will continue.”

Sa’ar has made several remarks in recent weeks that Israel is working with European Union counterparts to improve the system for distributing aid.

Since late May, Israel has handed authority over aid distribution in Gaza to the Israel- and United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), in a stated effort to prevent aid supplies from reaching Hamas. The GHF’s operations have been strongly criticized by the international community for failing to address the humanitarian needs in Gaza. It is unclear under which bodies the expanded aid measures will be operated.