Demonstrators stop Gaza humanitarian aid for 3rd day in a row, demand hostage release

Protesters almost completely prevented the supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via Israel’s Kerem Shalom border crossing for the third day in a row on Friday, Israeli media reported.

The organization ‘Tsav 9’ called for aid to Gaza to be discontinued “until the last of the hostages returns.”

Among the protesters were many family members of hostages still being held captive by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, as well as family members of IDF soldiers who have been killed during the war or are active soldiers operating in Gaza.

On Thursday, the protests completely prevented any trucks from crossing into Gaza, according to Israel's KAN news outlet. On average, some 70-100 trucks have passed through Kerem Shalom every day in recent weeks.

“We are here to block the logistical axis of Hamas and not allow the supply of aid to Hamas without compensation,” Hana Giat, whose husband and two sons are fighting in Gaza, told Israel Hayom news at the protest on Thursday.

The U.S. Biden administration has been urging the Israeli government to keep the border crossing open.

In a call on Thursday with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reiterated “the importance of ensuring uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza,” a U.S. spokesman said.

Responding to reports of U.S. pressure to end the demonstrations, Tsav 9 issued a statement: “We are very excited to hear about the involvement of the American government and their concern for aid and supplies to the murderous terrorist organization Hamas.”

“We suggest that the administration and the President of the United States direct all their efforts and heartfelt concern to the immediate release of the one-year-old baby Kfir Bibas together with 135 hostages.”

“We continue our activity with all our might and call on the entire public in the country, religious and secular from the right and the left, from the cities, the villages, and the kibbutzim to come with us and block the Kerem Shalom crossing. No aid goes through until the last of the hostages returns,” Tsav 9 stated.

The Kerem Shalom crossing was initially opened for humanitarian aid at the request of the U.S. to increase the amount of aid, as the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border has limited capacity.