Israeli Finance Minister Prevents Delivery Of Flour To Gaza Strip

Children Gaza (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Israeli Finance Minister ultranationalist Bezalel Smotrich prevented sending flour from ships to the Gaza Strip.

The reason is that the United States-funded supply is aimed at the United Nations for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

The shipment was stuck in Ashdod port in southern Israel for weeks, as Smotrich ordered customs authorities "not to issue the shipment as long as its recipient is UNRWA," according to US news website Axios, Tuesday (13/2).

Citing Antara, Wednesday, top officials of the administration of US President Joe Biden opened the possibility of sending flour more than a month ago, the site said, citing US and Israeli officials.

"US officials say this action is a violation of Benjamin Netanyahu's own commitment to President Biden a few weeks ago," Axios said.

"... and one of the reasons that frustrated the US leader of the Israeli prime minister," the US officials said, as quoted by Axios.

Israel's war and security cabinet has approved the delivery of flour from Ashdod port via the Kerem SALom crossing, according to the site, citing several Israeli officials without naming names.

The Israeli officials added that Smotrich ordered Israeli customs "so as not to issue deliveries if the recipient was UNRWA."

Smotrich and the US have yet to provide an official response regarding the report.

Several countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Canada have suspended funding for UNRWA following allegations by Israel.

The UN agency said it was investigating the allegations.

UNRWA, which was formed in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, received excise relief and taxes on imported goods for the agency's operations.

The UN agency was also exempted from VAT and taxes on purchasing fuel for organizational purposes.

Israel's war on Gaza has left 85 percent of the region's population displaced amid food shortages, clean water, and medicines, while 60 percent of infrastructure in the region has been damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.

At least 28,473 Palestinians were killed and 68,146 others injured in Israeli attacks, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have died in Hamas attacks.

Israel is accused of committing genocide in the International Court (ICJ).

The ICJ in a temporary decision issued in January ordered Israel to stop genocide and to take steps to ensure humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.