Israel has facilitated delivery of 14,000 humanitarian aid trucks to Gaza since Oct. 7 Hamas massacres

The State of Israel has facilitated the delivery of almost 14,000 trucks with crucial humanitarian aid to Gaza since the Hamas Oct. 7 incursion and massacres, according to updated statistics from COGAT, the Israeli authority in charge of coordinating governmental activities in the West Bank and Gaza.

The aid to Gaza is comprised of more than 254,000 tons of various supplies, including critical food supplies needed amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Netanyahu-led government was initially skeptical about providing large-scale humanitarian aid to Gaza while Israel remains under attack from Hamas.

There have been reports and a genuine concern that the humanitarian aid would end up in the hands of Hamas, prolonging the war and resulting in more civilian deaths. However, Jerusalem eventually agreed to Washington’s demand to increase the aid allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian aid was entering Gaza predominantly through the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian border after Israeli authorities reportedly checked the contents to make sure it did not contain any weaponry for Hamas terrorists or their allies. However, due to the overwhelming demand in Gaza, Israel eventually decided to open its own Kerem Shalom Crossing to increase the volume of aid provided.

Some international pundits have blamed Israel for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, in December, Israeli President Isaac Herzog blasted the United Nations for failing to handle the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza effectively.

“Unfortunately, due to the utter failure of the UN in its work with other partners in the region, they have been unable to bring in more than 125 trucks (of aid) a day, Herzog stated while hosting the French Senate President Gérard Larcher.

The Israeli president stressed at the time that aid to Gaza could triple if the UN focused on improving its performance

“Today it is possible to provide three times the amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza if the UN – instead of complaining all day – would do its job,” Herzog stated.

The issue of aid to Gaza remains a controversial matter in Israel as many oppose allowing any aid as long as Hamas continues to hold more than 100 Israeli and international hostages inside the coastal enclave.

In late January, angry Israeli protesters blocked the transfer of aid to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing. A local organization Tzav 9 demanded an end to all aid “until the last of the hostages returns.”

Protesters included the relatives of Israelis who are currently being held as hostages by Hamas in Gaza. Hania Giat whose husband and two sons served in the Israeli military against Hamas terrorists at the time demanded reciprocity by making the Gaza aid conditional upon the release of the hostages.

“We are here to block the logistical axis of Hamas and not allow the supply of aid to Hamas without compensation,” Giat said.

While the Biden administration backs Israel’s war against Hamas, Washington has reportedly asked Jerusalem to refrain from targeting Hamas “police officers” escorting aid convoys in the Gaza Strip.