Israel says it will not prevent aid entering Gaza from Egypt

Only food, water and medicine will be allowed, and supplies must not reach Hamas, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says

The move comes after a request from Biden, but Israel says aid from its own territory into Gaza remains blocked ‘as long as our hostages are not returned’

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Trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egyptian NGOs for Palestinians wait for the reopening of the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian side on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:28am, 19 Oct 2023Updated: 2:49am, 19 Oct 2023

Israel will not stop aid entering Gaza from Egypt but supplies will not be allowed to reach Palestinian group Hamas, the government said on Wednesday, after talks with US President Joe Biden who called for easing a humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Egypt, the only state apart from Israel to share a border with the Gaza Strip, has been stockpiling aid on its side of the border, but trucks have been unable to cross amid Israel’s heavy airstrikes in its war with Hamas.

After Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israeli territory on October 7, Israel said it was imposing a “total blockade” on the narrow strip of land that is home to 2.3 million people, cutting electricity supplies and halting flows of food and fuel.

The UN has warned about a “humanitarian catastrophe”.

Volunteers from humanitarian aid organisations pray outside Rafah border gate in Egypt on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

“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 [those] evacuating to there, and as long as these supplies do not reach Hamas,” the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.