Netanyahu: ‘Situation in Gaza is difficult,’ Israel will keep working to ensure ‘large amounts of aid’ enter Strip

In an English-language statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says that Israel “will continue to work with international agencies, as well as the US and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip.”

The PMO argues that Israel is already allowing significant amounts of food, water and medicine into Gaza every day.

Israel repeats its charge that Hamas steals aid from Gazans, including by shooting them.

“While the situation in Gaza is difficult and Israel has been working to ensure aid delivery,” the PMO continues, “Hamas benefits from attempting to fuel the perception of a humanitarian crisis. As such, they have been releasing unverified numbers to the news media while circulating images that are carefully staged or manipulated by Hamas.”

“We’ll continue to act responsibly, as we always have, and we’ll continue to seek the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” promises Netanyahu’s office. “That is the only way to secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”