Israel is pressing the United Nations to urgently scale up efforts to collect and distribute humanitarian aid meant for Gaza, according to the Israeli military body that coordinates civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories.
As reported on Times of Israel, Major General Ghassan Alian, head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), said in a statement today (Thursday) that while Israel has processed and transferred over 1,000 truckloads of aid to the Gaza side of the crossings, the UN is falling behind in picking up and delivering those supplies to people in need.
"[Just like] on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, where over 1,000 trucks are awaiting collection and distribution, here too in the JLOTS collection and distribution compound, there are hundreds of aid pallets awaiting collection and distribution by the UN aid agencies," Alian said.
He stressed that while Israel continues facilitating the aid flow, "the UN has a duty to scale up its logistical capabilities of collecting and distributing the humanitarian aid. We [are continuing] with our efforts – now it is your duty to complete the job."
COGAT said yesterday (Wednesday) that 285 aid trucks entered Gaza through the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings, with only 88 vehicles collected by UN agencies and private parties for distribution.
The UN's Gaza aid coordinator Sigrid Kaag warned Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday that lawlessness in the coastal strip is preventing the UN from properly distributing aid, leaving Israel at risk of having to singularly address the growing humanitarian crisis, according to COGAT.
Video credit: COGAT account on X