The British overseas secretary accused Israel of holding up help, saying {that a} key help crossing in Gaza is blocked by Israel.
David Cameron voiced “enormous frustration” that the UK help for Gaza has been routinely held up ready for Israeli permissions.
In a letter to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Alicia Kearns, Cameron identified “arbitrary denials” by the Israeli authorities.
“UK aid for Gaza has been routinely held up waiting for Israeli permissions. For instance, I am aware of some UK-funded aid being stuck at the border for just under three weeks waiting for approval,” stated the overseas secretary.
He additionally refuted claims by Eylon Levy, a former Israeli spokesperson who has been suspended, that the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern Gaza had been closed on Saturdays on the request of the UN.
Cameron stated that Israel closes it because of the Sabbath.
In a now-deleted put up on March 8, Levy claimed that there aren’t any limits on the entry of meals, water, drugs, or shelter gear into Gaza.
“Test us. Send another 100 trucks a day to Kerem Shalom and we’ll get them in,” he wrote on X, responding to a put up by Cameron urging Israel to permit extra help.
“In response to the Israeli spokesman claims you quote in your letter, I can confirm that the UN has not requested that the Kerem Shalom crossings (be) closed on Saturdays. It is our understanding that Israel closes it due to the Sabbath,” he stated within the letter, shared by Kearns on X on Thursday.
‘ISRAEL’S ARBITRARY DENIALS AND LENGTHY CLEARANCE PROCESSES’
“The main blockers remain arbitrary denials by the government of Israel and lengthy clearance procedures, including multiple screenings and narrow opening windows in daylight hours,” famous the overseas secretary.
Following the letter by Cameron, Kearns issued a press release, expressing concern over “one of the most desperate, distressing humanitarian disasters in recent memory.”
“Today’s letter confirms what we saw and heard on our visit to the border area-that Israel’s arbitrary denials and lengthy clearance processes are key factors in holding up the delivery of aid,” she famous.
She urged Israel to open Ashdod port and extra border crossings to allow the much-needed help to Palestinian civilians within the besieged enclave.
Israel has waged a lethal navy offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border assault by the Palestinian group Hamas through which some 1,200 Israelis had been killed.
Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, largely girls and kids, have since been killed in Gaza, and practically 74,200 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of requirements.
The Israeli conflict, now in its 167th day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’s inhabitants into inner displacement amid a crippling blockade of most meals, clear water and drugs, whereas 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been broken or destroyed, in line with the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide on the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling ordering Tel Aviv to cease genocidal acts and take measures to ensure that humanitarian help is offered to civilians in Gaza.
Source: www.anews.com.tr