IDF: Hamas Claims Of Gaza Famine Are False - Here's The Truth

The IDF's COGAT provided a broad survey for reporters today (Tuesday) explaining that there is no famine in Gaza and that the slowdown in aid reaching Gazan citizens is solely due to Hamas or UN and international organizations according to Army Radio reporter Doron Kadosh:

"At the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, on the Palestinian side, approximately 950 aid trucks are currently waiting, just waiting to be collected by UN entities into the Strip. This represents aid and food volumes that could sustain all of the Gaza Strip for two and a half weeks, but the UN has refused to date to come and distribute the trucks.

"In a series of meetings held between COGAT officials and UN representatives in recent days, it was agreed that the UN would make greater efforts to distribute the trucks, but despite coordination already made for today to bring in 70-80 trucks - the UN actually brought in only about 30.

"COGAT further notes that the UN is creating additional difficulties for bringing in aid trucks, for example: demanding that trucks be escorted by the Blue Police (of Hamas!), or demanding to bring communication devices into the Strip (which could find their way to Hamas).

According to Kadish, "In recent weeks, COGAT began operating an organized mechanism designed to prevent trucks and goods from reaching Hamas - among other things - only international organizations that have undergone an orderly approval and regulation process, and that operate transparently regarding donations and sources of their goods - are permitted to bring aid trucks into Gaza. The inspection, according to COGAT, is more rigorous, and there is a procedure for imposing sanctions on drivers, trucks and organizations that do not comply with the rules. While this mechanism makes the procedures for bringing aid into Gaza more complex, Israel views it as a necessary process to prevent goods from reaching Hamas."