Israeli Aid Distribution in Gaza Raises Concerns Amid Ongoing Violence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu selected a US company, SRS, to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip behind the back of security agencies, according to Israeli media. The decision has raised concerns among international aid groups and the UN, who have rejected the plan due to its potential to put Palestinian civilians and aid workers at risk. The Israeli army's plan to establish four aid distribution centers in northern Gaza via US firms aims to allegedly help the nearly 2.4 million people in the region who live completely dependent on humanitarian aid. However, the plan has been deemed logistically unworkable and against humanitarian principles.

Key Takeaways:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu selected US company SRS to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip without a tender or proper procedure, according to Haaretz.
• The Israeli army aims to establish four aid distribution centers in northern Gaza via US firms to help the nearly 2.4 million people who live completely dependent on humanitarian aid.
• The plan has been rejected by the UN and dozens of international aid groups, citing its potential to put Palestinian civilians and aid workers at risk.
• The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation plans to establish four centers for humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza in the upcoming days.
• The Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on May 18 that Israel was coordinating with a US firm to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza, adding that the aid distribution may start on May 24.
• World Bank data reveals that nearly 2.4 million people in Gaza live completely dependent on humanitarian aid.
• The Israeli army's offensive in Gaza since October 2023 has killed nearly 53,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
• Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
• Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
• The Israeli Security Cabinet approved an aid delivery plan for the Palestinians in Gaza through private US security contractors based on handing over aid boxes to individuals.

Statistics:

• 2.4 million people in Gaza live completely dependent on humanitarian aid (Source: World Bank).
• 53,900 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli army's offensive in Gaza since October 2023, most of them women and children (Source: Israeli media).

Sources:

• Haaretz - "Netanyahu's office denies involvement in deal with US company to distribute aid in Gaza".
• Israel's Army Radio.
• World Bank - " Gaza Crisis Response".
• United Nations - "UN Mourns Loss of Palestinian Civilians in Ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict".
• International Criminal Court - "ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Israeli Prime Minister and Former Defense Minister".