Netanyahu denies Israel is blocking winter aid to Gaza amid storms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that Israel is delaying winter supplies from entering the Gaza Strip. Severe rains have flooded makeshift tents in the enclave, causing worsening conditions this week.

The Dispute

His remarks follow a statement made on Monday by the U.S.-created Board of Peace. The board was set up under U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and oversee Gaza's recovery. It stated that Israel's delay in allowing winter supplies into Gaza had worsened the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge.

Storm Damage

Tortential rain has battered the war-torn enclave recently, damaging tens of thousands of makeshift tents. Four people, including three children, died on Sunday when a large sandstone slab collapsed onto tents during the rains.

Reactions

Mr. Netanyahu said the Palestinian militant group Hamas is to blame. He stated that Hamas continues to refuse to disarm, which is a condition of the deal announced by Mr. Trump, and that Hamas seizes humanitarian aid to use for military purposes. On Tuesday, he said that Hamas alone is responsible for the suffering of the people of Gaza and is cynically exploiting that suffering to shift blame onto Israel. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the situation in Gaza intolerable and demanded that Israel end arbitrary restrictions on aid. In Washington, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, the top Democrat on the Senate's foreign spending subcommittee, called for Israel to immediately allow winter gear into Gaza. Senator Schatz said on the Senate floor on Tuesday that while challenges between Israel and Palestine are complicated and contentious, people should be able to agree that repairing torn tents, helping people dry out, and providing warmth to freezing children is a basic human obligation.

Context

This dispute highlights the ongoing humanitarian struggles in conflict zones where civilian aid delivery is heavily contested. International bodies and foreign leaders frequently pressure governments to ease access during severe weather emergencies. At the same time, security concerns and militant control of territory remain central points of disagreement in delivering supplies.