The Israeli authorities have consented to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, as confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We acknowledge the importance of delivering humanitarian aid. In this regard, we are closely coordinating our efforts with our American counterparts and with President Joe Biden," he stated in an ABC interview that aired on Monday. He emphasized that Tel Aviv is committed to doing "everything within our means" to address this pressing issue.
Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel "is determined to prevent Hamas from jeopardizing the safety of the Israel Defense Forces' soldiers."
The delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip commenced on October 21, two weeks after the Middle East conflict began to intensify. According to the UN, approximately 450 truckloads of humanitarian aid have reached the enclave. Prior to the conflict escalation, the Gaza Strip was receiving around 500 truckloads of relief supplies daily.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also conveyed his hope that Iran and the Shiite Hezbollah party would recognize that they would face a robust response if they were to become involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"I believe they have come to understand that if they engage in a major conflict, the response will be exceptionally formidable. I hope they avoid making that error," he expressed. Netanyahu also emphasized that "a ceasefire would be viewed as Israel surrendering to Hamas and a victory for Hamas."
Gaza Strip post-conflict situation
The prime minister stated that Israel would assume security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip for a certain period following the conclusion of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
When asked about the governance of the Palestinian enclave after the conflict, it was mentioned that US President Joe Biden had warned Israel against deciding to occupy the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that such a move would be a mistake.
"I believe there will be a joint responsibility for Israel's security for an unspecified duration, as we have witnessed the consequences when that security responsibility is absent. It results in an upsurge of Hamas terrorist activities to levels beyond imagination," Netanyahu stated.
He stressed that Gaza should be governed by "those who are not inclined to follow in the footsteps of Hamas."
Netanyahu further stated that he views the loss of every civilian life as a tragedy and accused Hamas of using Palestinians as human shields. He said, "Every civilian casualty is a heart-wrenching tragedy. We are fighting against extremely ruthless adversaries who use civilians as human shields. While we urge Palestinian civilians to evacuate conflict zones, Hamas forcefully prevents them from doing so at gunpoint."
Earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called for intensified pressure on the United States and Israel to halt hostilities in the Gaza Strip. He believes that Iran and Iraq, through their coordinated efforts, can "play a role in this region."
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Based on materials from TASS