The American pressure to break the isolation of Gaza is starting to work. In Egypt, it was announced that, with American approval, 20 aid shipments will enter through the Rafah crossing. The approval came after a conversation between President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Yesterday, Israel announced that it would not allow humanitarian assistance to Gaza until there is information and a meeting with the Red Cross personnel regarding the 200 captives held by Hamas. In addition, Israel stated that it would only approve the entry of water, fuel, and medicine for hospitals and refugee centers in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, on the condition that they do not reach Hamas and do not move north.
Netanyahu stated yesterday in a statement in the Kirya, following Biden's departure from Israel: "Regarding the captives, I made three points clear to President Biden. Firstly, I demanded the return of the captives, and we are working together to bring them back in every possible way. Secondly, until their return, we insist on Red Cross visits to our captives. Thirdly, we will not allow humanitarian aid of food and medicine from our territory to Gaza."
Despite the statements, it seems that Israel will not thwart the entry of the 20 aid trucks into the southern Gaza Strip, but will bomb the trucks if they move north to the Gaza area.
