MK Sharan Haskel of the New Hope Party on Wednesday attacked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for demanding that Israel "work with UN agencies in Gaza," particularly UNRWA.
"Mr. Secretary, Hamas has taken over UNRWA in Gaza," Haskel told Israel Hayom. "Therefore, what you mean is that there is no alternative to Hamas. We are not prepared to accept this in any way."
"You have two options: Either bring the UNHCR [UN General Refugee Agency, which is not active among the Palestinians], with all its foreign workers into Gaza, to make sure that the aid coming in is humanitarian and not Hamas."
MK Sharan Haskel, Photo: Noam Rivkin Fenton
"Alternatively," the Knesset member suggests, "you can determine for UNRWA the reality of the day after: the placement of international workers only, not local Palestinians; Adopting the Emirati or American education system in UN institutions – it is inconceivable that the UN will educate entire generations on radical Islam. What was must not be what it was, otherwise October 7 will come back, sooner or later."
The intellect responded to the remarks made last night by the senior American official at a press conference held in Tel Aviv. Blinken said: "The UN plays a vital role in responding to the enormous humanitarian needs in Gaza, there is simply no alternative. UN personnel and other aid workers in Gaza have shown extraordinary courage and continue to provide life-saving services in extremely challenging conditions. Israel should do everything in its power to remove any obstacle to the passage [of humanitarian aid] to other parts of Gaza." Blinken added: "Improving procedures to reduce military conflict, to ensure aid can move safely, is a critical part of that."
"I spoke last night with the UN's Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza Reconstruction, Sigrid Kaag, about all these efforts that are underway," Blinken said. "It has the full support of the United States and it should also have the support of Israel."
Did not bring news, Anthony Blinken, Photo: AP
Israeli officials were angered yesterday by Blinken's claim that Israel was causing problems in distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza. "The secretary knows very well that Hamas is taking over the aid and that the delays in distribution are not because of Israel. He wasn't telling the truth," one diplomatic source said.
IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Danny Hagari also issued a special statement on Monday evening responding to Blinken's criticism, without naming him. "Hamas has turned the population of Gaza into human shields. We, as a moral army operating in accordance with international law, are doing our best to defend it."
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"This narrative may not be seen on TV screens and on TikTok, but we care more about the residents of Gaza than Hamas, which sees the residents only as a means of harming Israel," Hagari said. "We are ready to bring in as much humanitarian aid as the world will give. We are scanning aid trucks at a faster pace than aid organizations are able to receive inside Gaza. We meet daily with the heads of aid organizations in Gaza and help them solve problems, and we work to facilitate the distribution of aid in Gaza. We will not lose eye contact with our humanity, even for one second, in parallel with the efforts to free the abductees and liberate Gaza from Hamas."
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