The IDF opened the Erez Crossing into Gaza both yesterday and today (Tuesday), despite difficulties imposed by the Palestinian Authority itself. In addition, despite warnings of terrorist plans to commit an attack, the Karni Crossing has been opened for days at a time. Huge amounts of food supplies and medicines are being transported to Gaza.
The goods that passed through the crossing since Monday included basic foodstuffs, thousands of liters of benzine, 75 tons of cooking gas, medical equipment. IDF forces continue to search for terrorist tunnels in the Karni area.
Col. Nir Fares, head of the IDF liaison office in Gaza, told Arutz-7 that though the situation "is not easy," it is "far from a humanitarian crisis or hunger. However, the reason for this has nothing to do with Israel - but rather with the ongoing terrorism against Israel and the Hamas government that supports it."
Fares explained that the Karni Crossing, the main throughpoint through which most of the goods enter Gaza, is and has been the site of terrorist activity. "Our interest is not to harm the civilian population that does not promote terrorism," Fares said. "We do not use our power to pressure the population to pressure its government. I don't think that would be right. But if the people in Gaza wake up and realize that it is their own terrorism that is causing them to suffer, then perhaps the situation will improve."
Fares said that officials in the Palestinian Authority themselves have refused to allow goods into Gaza. "They are trying to create a crisis or make it look like a crisis," Fares told AP.
Fares mentioned five truckloads of dairy products headed for the Gaza coastal area that were blocked by PA officials on Tuesday, until he personally intervened. "We also proposed an alternative crossing for goods at Kerem Shalom, but the PA didn't cooperate."
Arab sources in Gaza say that because of Israel's strike of the main electricity plant, water is being supplied on a partial basis. Fares told Arutz-7, "We continue to supply them with water on a regular basis."
The PA also claims that flour and fuel are running out; Israel says this is a lie. The security establishment, which monitors the crossings, has precise data regarding supplies in Gaza. Israel thus reports with certainty that the amount of flour is sufficient to last for more than a month, and that supplies of benzine total over a million liters.
"There is no shortage," Fares is quoted as saying on an IDF report, "and certainly not supplies of just a few days. The supplies are decreasing - sometimes there is only 2-3-4 weeks' worth of wheat or rice or whatever, so we make sure that those supplies are brought in. The current supplies, together with the supplemental deliveries, will ensure that there will be no shortages in the coming weeks, even if the IDF continues with Operation Summer Rains."
Just last week, Fares said, "Karni was open for three days, during which 250 trucks filled with all sorts of food arrived, carrying rice, wheat, beans, meat, fruit, oil, milk, medicine, salt, and more."
A-7: "There are claims that there is a sugar shortage."
Fares: "On Tuesday, seven trailerloads of sugar arrived, for a grand total of close to 300 tons. Just today, another 120 tons arrived via Erez."
"The Palestinians' terrorism hurts, first and foremost, themselves," Fares emphasized.
The goods that passed through the crossing since Monday included basic foodstuffs, thousands of liters of benzine, 75 tons of cooking gas, medical equipment. IDF forces continue to search for terrorist tunnels in the Karni area.
Col. Nir Fares, head of the IDF liaison office in Gaza, told Arutz-7 that though the situation "is not easy," it is "far from a humanitarian crisis or hunger. However, the reason for this has nothing to do with Israel - but rather with the ongoing terrorism against Israel and the Hamas government that supports it."
Fares explained that the Karni Crossing, the main throughpoint through which most of the goods enter Gaza, is and has been the site of terrorist activity. "Our interest is not to harm the civilian population that does not promote terrorism," Fares said. "We do not use our power to pressure the population to pressure its government. I don't think that would be right. But if the people in Gaza wake up and realize that it is their own terrorism that is causing them to suffer, then perhaps the situation will improve."
Fares said that officials in the Palestinian Authority themselves have refused to allow goods into Gaza. "They are trying to create a crisis or make it look like a crisis," Fares told AP.
Fares mentioned five truckloads of dairy products headed for the Gaza coastal area that were blocked by PA officials on Tuesday, until he personally intervened. "We also proposed an alternative crossing for goods at Kerem Shalom, but the PA didn't cooperate."
Arab sources in Gaza say that because of Israel's strike of the main electricity plant, water is being supplied on a partial basis. Fares told Arutz-7, "We continue to supply them with water on a regular basis."
The PA also claims that flour and fuel are running out; Israel says this is a lie. The security establishment, which monitors the crossings, has precise data regarding supplies in Gaza. Israel thus reports with certainty that the amount of flour is sufficient to last for more than a month, and that supplies of benzine total over a million liters.
"There is no shortage," Fares is quoted as saying on an IDF report, "and certainly not supplies of just a few days. The supplies are decreasing - sometimes there is only 2-3-4 weeks' worth of wheat or rice or whatever, so we make sure that those supplies are brought in. The current supplies, together with the supplemental deliveries, will ensure that there will be no shortages in the coming weeks, even if the IDF continues with Operation Summer Rains."
Just last week, Fares said, "Karni was open for three days, during which 250 trucks filled with all sorts of food arrived, carrying rice, wheat, beans, meat, fruit, oil, milk, medicine, salt, and more."
A-7: "There are claims that there is a sugar shortage."
Fares: "On Tuesday, seven trailerloads of sugar arrived, for a grand total of close to 300 tons. Just today, another 120 tons arrived via Erez."
"The Palestinians' terrorism hurts, first and foremost, themselves," Fares emphasized.