First publication:
The coordinator of government operations in Yesha, General Rasan Elian, told senior officials in the American administration that at this stage there is no substitute for UNRWA's operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel Hayom has learned.
Aliyan is currently in the US and, among other things, met with government officials dealing with the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He explained in the talks that Israel's position is that UNRA should be replaced and that an accelerated and rapid plan should be prepared to introduce alternative aid organizations to the Strip.
The reason for this is the agency's close ties with Hamas and the involvement of many of its people in the October 7 massacre.
Rasan Alian, from the Israel Defense Forces, photo: IDF spokesman
Aliyan emphasized that alternative aid organizations can be found, including UN organizations. However, he explained that at this stage there is no other body that can distribute humanitarian supplies in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, at the moment there is no escape from continuing to work with the agency. It should be noted that similar statements were heard from Senior officials of the National Security Service in closed conversations throughout the war.
Alongside this, Matafash criticizes UNRA for the slow rate of bringing in the humanitarian aid given to it by Israel.
It should be noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu said last night (Thursday) that "we need to find a replacement for UNRA." In a meeting with UN ambassadors who are visiting Israel, Netanyahu added, "There are other agencies in the UN, there are other agencies in the world - they need to replace UNRA "A. It has been proven that UNRA is completely connected with Hamas."
"Israel Hayom" also learned that the Prime Minister instructed the Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, to formulate an alternative to UNRA. The directive was given at the last cabinet meeting, according to which the directive of the Southern Command will lead the plan to formulate the alternative. However, no schedule has been set Officials in the defense establishment confirmed to "Israel Hayom" that staff work is being done to formulate alternatives to the problematic agency.
UNRA offices in Gaza (archive), photo: E.P
It should be noted that there is a consensus in the security system and the political system in Israel that UNRA cannot continue to operate in Gaza. However, according to experts in the profession, if the relationship with UNRA is completely severed, there will be no one to distribute aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip and therefore, a humanitarian crisis will occur .
In Israel, they expect to hear what the US position will be regarding the manner in which aid is brought into Gaza, and are expected to align accordingly. According to the data of the coordinator of operations, since the beginning of the war until the beginning of this week, 10,000 supply trucks have entered Gaza.
Richard Goldberg, a senior researcher from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy (FDD), rejected this claim in a hearing held yesterday in the US Congress.
Addressing the members of the committee and the participants in the discussion who raised the argument that "UNRA has no alternative", Goldberg noted that "alternatives were found for UNRA in Syria during the civil war in Syria in the previous decade".
He added that, "I have heard this argument from members of the committee time and time again. 'UNRA is necessary.
What is the alternative?
If we cut it, we will have terrible suffering and loss.'
Well, let me take the logic of this argument to the next level, because it's really important.
Hamas runs the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Hamas runs the services in Gaza.
Hamas runs the Ministry of Tourism and Commerce and Economy in Gaza.
My God, we have no alternative to Hamas, I guess!
Hamas should stay!
Is this a logical conclusion for these friends?!
Are they saying that Hamas should remain in charge of Gaza, what is the alternative?
No!
So why is this argument valid regarding the UN-Hamas relief agency?!".
The response of the spokeswoman from Tafash to the publication
: "Every position presented by the security officials in the US has been approved by the security establishment and in coordination with the political echelon."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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