Israel Denies UN Agency Statement On Rejection Of Aid Convoy Towards Northern Gaza

A humanitarian aid truck from Egypt entered Gaza via Rafah. (Twitter/@PalestinineRCS)

JAKARTA - Israel has branded the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) statement a "false claim" regarding the refusal of aid convoys seeking to reach people in northern Gaza by authorities.

"Regarding the WFP's false claims, we regret that several international aid organizations have wrongly assessed the great efforts made by the State of Israel," the country said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the WFP said their convoy of 14 trucks was rejected by Israeli authorities after waiting three hours at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint.

The UN agency said this was their first attempt to continue sending aid to the northern route since February 20.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government agency that oversees humanitarian aid to the enclave confirmed on Thursday that some of the supplies aimed at northern Gaza were not delivered, but did not provide further details.

"Providing humanitarian assistance in active war zones, especially where terrorist organizations operate from among civilians, is a complicated and dynamic effort. Therefore, some aid deliveries aimed at the northern Gaza Strip have not been delivered in the end," said COGAT.

"However, despite the existing difficulties, in practice the IDF has approved and coordinated more than 240 humanitarian aid trucks for the northern Gaza Strip since earlier this year, and continues to maintain contact with aid organizations to facilitate the sustainable flow of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip", he said.. aid in the Gaza Strip.