Article originally published in English
Israel says aid began entering Gaza more quickly after international pressure to increase access, but the scale is disputed by the United Nations and the Red Crescent.
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Israel says it is “moving forward” with plans to launch a large-scale ground offensive on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Government spokesman David Mencer said the target was four Hamas battalions allegedly based in the city, warning they “cannot be protected from Israel.”
The Israeli government had already declared Rafah a safe zone, where more than half of Gaza’s population, 2.3 million inhabitants, sought shelter.
Israel has been threatening to advance towards the city for weeks, plans that have sparked intense opposition from the country’s allies and human rights groups, who say an offensive could cause thousands of civilian casualties.
However, Israel says aid has begun to enter Gaza more quickly following international pressure to increase access.
“While some measures are being implemented, other definitive and urgent measures are needed to set the course for a sustained flow of humanitarian and commercial goods to Gaza, in terms of volume, need and scope,” said Sigrid Kaag, Senior Nations Coordinator United Nations for Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction in Gaza.
“Given the scale and scope of the destruction and the extent of human suffering, every day counts.”
Israeli authorities say 468 trucks entered the territory on Tuesday, but these figures have been disputed by the United Nations and the Red Crescent, with the UN saying some trucks were only half full due to inspection rules.
Tags: Israeli plans launch largescale offensive Rafah underway
