JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza, three officials present at the discussion said, with aid likely to increase soon.
A spokesman for Netanyahu did not immediately comment. A fourth Israeli official said the prime minister’s security office was expected to discuss the matter further on Sunday. The meeting was first reported by Israel’s Channel 13 news.
The United States has told Israel it must take steps in the next 30 days to improve the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave or face potential curbs on US military aid, US officials said on Tuesday.
The UN has long complained about the obstacles to getting aid into Gaza and its distribution throughout the war zone, blaming Israel for the obstacles and lawlessness. The UN said no food aid entered northern Gaza between October 2 and October 15.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military, which oversees the delivery of aid and commercial supplies to Gaza, said 50 trucks carrying food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment provided by Jordan had been transferred to northern Gaza.
A deadly attack on southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants on October 7, 2023 prompted Israeli retaliation in Hamas-ruled Gaza, sparking a humanitarian crisis in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
