Highlights: Israel: caution after announcement of reopening of Erez crossing point. The Israeli response is also considered insufficient by the President of the European Council. Israel had not previously opened a route to the north of the Gaza Strip, but this change of heart is arousing skepticism and questions. “I sincerely hope that these intentions will be truly and quickly materialized because the situation in Gaza is absolutely desperate,” declared UN boss Antonio Gutteres. But for the moment, no reopening timetable has been communicated by Israel.

The UN boss considers Israel's announcement of a “temporary” reopening of a crossing point to the north of the Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian aid insufficient. The answer…

Israel: caution after announcement of reopening of Erez crossing point

The UN boss considers Israel's announcement of a “

temporary

” reopening of a crossing point to the north of the Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian aid insufficient. The Israeli response is also considered insufficient by the President of the European Council. Israel had not previously opened a route to the north of the Gaza Strip, but this change of heart is, for the moment, arousing skepticism and questions.

A general view of the Erez crossing with the Gaza Strip in the background after the Israeli cabinet approved the reopening of the crossing to northern Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, seen from the south of Israel, April 5, 2024. REUTERS - Hannah McKay

By: RFI Follow

The opening of new roads to

Gaza

was demanded by humanitarian actors. “

Land crossing points are the most efficient way to deliver humanitarian aid

. »

And for Tamara Al Rifai, the director of external relations for UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, the opening of an axis to the north of the Gaza Strip is particularly important. “

This crossing point would make it possible to reach populations who until now and since the start of this conflict have been almost entirely cut off from the rest of the world.

But for the moment, no reopening timetable has been communicated by Israel. Nothing about the terms either. And the actors want to be careful. “

I sincerely hope that these intentions will be truly and quickly materialized because the situation in Gaza is absolutely desperate

,” declared UN boss Antonio Gutteres. And it's not just the reopening of the border post that matters, says Tamara al Rifai. It is also necessary to organize transportation within the enclave.

“

The organization of logistics is essential for the distribution of food and humanitarian aid. We need to be able to sort the humanitarian aid that arrives in the Gaza Strip, bring it back to the warehouses and then transport it to the different places where the community is located

. »

But since the end of January, Israel has not given any authorization to UNRWA - the main humanitarian actor in the Palestinian enclave - to access the northern half.

After this tragedy, the Israeli government informed the United Nations of its intention to allow a substantial increase in humanitarian aid distributed to Gaza. I sincerely hope that these intentions will really and quickly be realized because the situation in Gaza is absolutely desperate. These dramatic humanitarian conditions require a giant step forward in the delivery of life-saving aid, a true paradigm shift. It is not enough to have scattered measures.

01:08

Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN

Carrie Nooten

Also read: Humanitarians killed in Gaza: Israeli army admits to having made a series of “serious errors”

Israel: caution after announcement of reopening of Erez crossing point

Israel: caution after announcement of reopening of Erez crossing point

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