However, Tel Aviv said it would not allow humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip from its territory as long as its citizens held captive were not returned.
Israel on Wednesday said that it will allow humanitarian aid to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip from Egypt amid global pressure on Tel Aviv to ease its siege on the Palestinian territory that has been in place since October 9.
Israel made the announcement on a day when United States President Joe Biden visited the country in a bid to reassert Washington DC’s support while simultaneously trying to dial down tensions.
“In light of President Biden’s request, Israel will not prevent humanitarian assistance from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip or which is evacuating to there, and as long as these supplies do not reach Hamas,” a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office read. “Any supplies that reach [Palestinian militant group] Hamas…will be prevented.”
Israel, however, said it would not allow humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip from its territory as long as its citizens held captive were not returned. “Israel demands Red Cross visits with our captives and is working to mobilise broad international support for this demand,” the prime minister’s office said.
