Israel Says It Will Flood Gaza With Humanitarian Aid, Spokesperson: IDF: The Problem Is Distribution

The UN humanitarian aid convoy has entered northern Gaza. (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - Israel will seek to flood the Gaza Strip, with humanitarian assistance from various points of entry, the country's main military spokesman said, as international pressure increases as the problem of hunger in the Palestinian enclave increases.

"We are trying to flood the area, flood it with humanitarian aid," said Israeli spokesman Defense Forces (IDF) Rear Admiral Daniel

On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced six aid trucks with supplies from the World Food Organization (FAO) had entered the northern part of the Gaza Strip, where the hunger crisis was acute, through a crossing on the security fence known as the 96th gateway.

More similar convoys will follow as well as shipments from other points of entry, equipped with air delivery and cargo assistance by sea, said Laksda Miki.

"We learn and improve and make different changes so as not to create a routine but to create a diversity of ways that we can enter," he said.

However, he admits that bringing supply into the enclave is just one part of the problem and there is still a lot to do, to solve the problem of how to distribute it fairly and efficiently to people in dire need.

"The problem in Gaza is a distribution issue," said Laksdaani.

The challenges in distributing and distributing aid securely were evident earlier this month, when the aid truck convoy was surrounded by thousands of people trying to get supplies and soldiers opened fire.

Hundreds of people died in the incident despite sharp dissent from Palestinian health authorities, who said most of the victims were shot dead, while Israel said most were trampled to death or hit by a truck in panic.

After more than five months of war in Gaza, aid agencies have warned 2.3 million people in the region are facing a greater risk of starvation, if food supplies are not significantly increased and accuse Israel of not doing enough to ensure distributed aid.

Israel says it has not restricted the amount of aid it has allowed into Gaza, blaming the failure of aid agencies for causing delays in aid. However, Israel faces growing demands, including from its closest allies, to do more.

Most of the aid that entered Gaza was distributed by Israel in Kerem SALom, a customs station at a border point between Egypt, Israel and Gaza, before being brought through the southern city of Rafah, the main crossing point between Egypt and Gaza.

However, when aid agencies struggle to distribute aid, this becomes increasingly problematic and there are more demands from major countries, including the United States and the European Union, so that more intersection points are opened.