UNRWA rejects Trump's Gaza plan, surge in aid continues
3 Min Read
Hamas previously postponed the release of three Israeli captives after 'Israel' obstructed much-needed humanitarian aid from entering, sparking fears of the ceasefire collapsing.
-
Truck drivers of humanitarian aid wait at a parking point in Cairo, Egypt, on their way to cross the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 26, 2025. (AP)
UNRWA rejected Trump's plan to take over Gaza and displace Palestinians, emphasizing that the United Nations rejects forced displacement, with the UNRWA Communications Director Juliet Touma saying, "The position of the United Nations is clear, and there is no possibility of accepting forced displacement" in an interview with Sputnik.
Touma highlighted the humanitarian crisis faced by the people of Gaza due to the war, emphasizing that "rebuilding efforts and plans to revive the economy and repair the destruction are possible," calling on the international community to help Palestinians in Gaza rebuild their neighborhoods.
Humanitarian aid continues to enter Gaza following Hamas' announcement that it will follow through with the release of Israeli captives on February 15. This comes after a prior decision when they said they would postpone it after "Israel's" repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement.
800 trucks carrying life-saving aid went into Gaza, reaching over 1.5 million people, with more than 586,000 Palestinians crossing to the northern sector of Gaza following the Israeli withdrawal from the Netzarim corridor.
UNICEF Communications Manager Tess Ingam said, "A lot of aid has come in. We have scaled up as fast as we possibly could over the last three weeks of this ceasefire, but of course, we cannot undo 15 months of suffering in three weeks."
Hamas postpones captive release
Hamas postponed the captive release set for February 15 indefinitely on February 10, after recording numerous Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including the prevention of aid trucks that were carrying hundreds of thousands of tents and other humanitarian aid.
Three Israeli soldiers and two mediators confirmed Hamas' claims as true.
Previously, a senior Palestinian official told Al Mayadeen that "Israel" was obstructing the ceasefire deal on purpose, adding that the statements by Israeli officials show the lack of commitment to a lasting ceasefire.
Israeli media echoed this claim, with reports suggesting that the Israeli delegation to Qatar lacks any real authority, showing Netanyahu's intentions and his lack of commitment to a deal that would guarantee the release of more Palestinian detainees and a permanent ceasefire.
The reports added that Netanyahu wants to please far-right factions, more so than securing the release of the Israeli captives, with Haaretz sources saying that "Right-wing voters see on the ground that we have not defeated Hamas and its operatives continue to walk around with weapons."
Egyptian sources confirmed on Thursday that efforts to keep the ceasefire deal on track were successful, with negotiations moving towards resuming the exchanges, while Israeli i24NEWS outlet revealed that mediation efforts were successful, and several international organizations were approved to deliver aid to Gaza, including much-needed fuel and medical supplies.
