From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Military rebuffs international claims of potential famine in Gaza
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
After warnings from the US, UN and other aid agencies about the potential for a famine in Gaza, a spokesman for the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories tell The Times of Israel that “we don’t believe that there is starvation in the Gaza Strip.”
“That’s not to say that there aren’t difficulties in some areas, but that we are doing everything we can to facilitate large amounts of aid,” the spokesman continues.
He also says that Israel has placed “absolutely no limit on the amount of aid” that goes into Gaza.
The real problem, says the spokesman, is distribution.
Israel is trying to diversify the ways aid gets into Gaza, opening up a sea corridor from Cyprus, allowing more aid drops, and sending two convoys through a crossing near Beeri, close to the northern Gaza Strip.
Israel is able to check 44 trucks an hour at Kerem Shalom and Nitzana, says the COGAT spokesman. “That is a lot more than what can be picked up on the other side.”
“We can inspect as fast as possible,” he says, adding that when necessary “we’re more than willing to create improvements.”
“We’ve added manpower and scanning equipment and working hours. So at the moment, Kerem Shalom can inspect more than can be distributed.”
The spokesman adds that there is an IDF team that meets daily with the UN and other aid organizations to understand what is needed on the ground in Gaza.
“Based on that understanding, we prioritize what humanitarian aid needs to go in. But if there is a certain organization or country that would like to see additional aid go in, then we’re more than happy to facilitate it.”
