Humanitarian aid to Gaza up by 900 percent, says Israel

Jerusalem, Nov. 17 (ANI): The inflow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has gone up by approximately 900 percent in 12 months, the IDF has said.

"We are investing major resources to enable the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," The Jerusalem Post quoted Col. Moshe Levi, head of the IDF's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration, as saying.

The aid is supplied by various international organizations - the International Red Cross, UNRWA, WFP - and is imported into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom Crossing near the Egyptian border.

"We are investing major resources to enable the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," Levi said during a tour of the Erez Crossing.

Last week, the Palestinians opened a corridor connecting the outskirts of Gaza City with the Erez Crossing.

Levi denied reports that there was currently a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

"The situation there is stable. Our efforts continue with [or] without such a report," he said, adding that the publication of the Goldstone Report, which accused Israel of war crimes, had not had an impact on Israel's humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In recent reports, the United Nations has complained of Israel's refusal to allow raw materials required for construction into Gaza.

A senior officer said Israel was cautious when approving the transfer of cement to Gaza, since it was used by Hamas in some cases to rebuild military infrastructure. (ANI)