https://arab.news/8pxks
Of the 20 points in Donald Trump’s peace plan, the one that provided the most relief for Palestinians was the one that stated that the “entry and distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties (Israel and Hamas) through the UN and its agencies.” Many have said to me that their greatest fear was not being bombed but to die a long, slow death by starvation or thirst.
The two phrases that mattered were “without interference” and “through the UN and its agencies.” Israel had fought to prevent the UN resuming its role in Gaza.
At no point since Israel’s blockade of Gaza was reinforced in 2007 has Israel allowed aid to enter the Strip without interference. And since October 2023, it has twice imposed a complete denial of all entry of aid, including food, water, fuel and medicines, into the Strip — restrictions only eased after international pressure.
Let’s be clear. Letting in aid is not a concession but a legal and moral obligation. No pats on the back should be forthcoming for letting aid into Gaza, not least when Palestinians were and still are being starved to death.
