Israel Defense Forces Pours Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza

By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem ----July 2....... Part of the following was communicated by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Government Press Office to the Israel News Agency.

The IDF provided a summary of humanitarian activity and aid into the Gaza Strip which was coordinated by the Israel Defense Forces throughout the day.

"Despite the volatile security situation in the Gaza Strip, the IDF is continuing its efforts to provide a response to humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip," an IDF spokesperson told the INA.

"Throughout the day the following humanitarian aid was transferred from Israel into Gaza through the Sufa, Kerem Shalom and Erez Crossings with the coordination of the Gaza District Coordination and Liaison Office: 676 tons of sugar, 637 tons of straw, 375 tons of animal feed, 191 tons of fruits, 159 tons of salt, 116,000 liters of cooking oil, 79 tons of bananas, 71,000 liters of milk, 36 tons of rice, 36 tons of tea, 33 tons of meat, 21,000 liters of hypochlorite (a water purifier), 20 tons of coffee, 20 tons of cocoa, 14 tons of milk powder, 5 tons of medical equipment for babies and 10 tons of diapers, 4 tons of reproductive eggs and 5kg of medical equipment and 8433 vaccines."

The terror group Hamas is attempting to restore law and order, collecting weapons, directing traffic and enforcing municipal codes at vegetable stands. But with Israel in control of its borders, coastline and airspace and with Fatah ignoring its pleas for a return to negotiations even Hamas acknowledges it won't be able to go it alone in Gaza.

The green Hamas flag flies over security buildings once used by Fatah. Gaza's only remaining radio station the Hamas-controlled Al Aqsa Radio blares militant slogans. Secular men, in fear for their lives, are growing beards in line with Islamic tradition.

Hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid have arrived in Gaza in the days since Hamas's violent takeover. But the territory's borders are closed for commercial trade indefinitely, all but destroying any prospect of development for Gaza's 1.4 million people.

In their violent seizure of Gaza, the Islamic terrorists of Hamas clearly had no plan for the day after.

Senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat of Fatah has the crucial task of coordinating with Israel the entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza. But Fatah's assistance only covers basic needs, and Gaza's exports are strangled.

John Ging, the head of UN aid operations in Gaza, said the world must find a way to keep Gaza's borders open for trade.

"Already we are feeding 1.1 million out of Gaza's 1.4 million people," he said. "But we'll be feeding the rest of them if the economy is killed."

The U.N. condemned the attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing, saying the attack served to "endanger the provision of vital humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza."

The IDF said the mortar fire was accompanied by another explosion nearby, apparently a roadside bomb, forcing the closure for security reasons.

The terror group Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the shooting in an announcement on its Web site.

Since the larger Islamic group Hamas seized control of Gaza, IDF and U.N. aid organizations have been sending truckloads of food and medicine through crossings from Israel to avert shortages in the poverty-stricken territory.

Shlomo Dror, an Israel military spokesman, said an average of 80 truckloads of humanitarian aid were entering Gaza daily.

"Some 150-200 Palestinians remained at the Erez crossing, but there is currently no intention of allowing their transfer to the West Bank via Israel for fear that some of them may be terrorists," said Tuesday the head of the of the Gaza District Coordination Office (DCO) with the Palestinians, Colonel Nir Peres.

“With each passing day the situation in the Strip will continue to deteriorate,” he said. “We are trying to provide as much assistance as possible, but eventually Hamas’ violent regime will only hurt the citizens more,” he said.