Israel โขto Halve Aid into Gaza Amid Hostage Recovery Concerns
GENEVA/JERUSALEM โ- Israel announced Tuesday it will reduce the amount of aid entering Gaza byโ half,citing concerns over the slowโค pace โof returningโข the bodies โคof hostages โคheld โby Hamas. The decision comes as international organizations warn of catastrophic conditionsโ within the besieged โขterritory.
According to a statement โฃreleased โby Israel, theโข reduction in โคaid โคis linked toโ a lackโ of progress in negotiations for the return of the remains of Israeli citizens and soldiers killed during the October 7th attacks and subsequent conflict. Israel maintainsโ it adheres to โits prison standards under law and investigates reports ofโ violations regarding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, but these claims are frequently challenged by human rights groups โฃand media organizations.
The United Nations advancement Program (UNDP) estimates theโข scale of destructionโ in Gaza is immense. Jaco Cillers, special representative ofโ UNDP administrator for aโข program to helpโฃ Palestinians, stated the amount โคof rubble currently totals approximately 55 million tons โ- enoughโ to build 13 giantโ pyramids in Gizaโ or cover New York’s Central Park to a โขdepth of 12 meters (40 โฃfeet). The UNDP, along with the European Union and the World โขBank, estimates $70 billion will be required โขto rebuild Gaza, a figure thatโข has risenโ from $53 billion in February. Cillers indicated $20 billion would be needed โin the next threeโ years, with the remainder potentially requiring decades to secure. Heโ also noted “good indications” from potential donors in the Arab world, Europe, and theโ United States.
simultaneously occurring, Turkishโ President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that a recent agreement signed in Egypt is not a peace โdeal, butโค a framework for a ceasefire. โHe urged the United States and other nations to pressure Israel to ensure compliance, citing concerns over Israel’s past โadherence to ceasefireโ agreements. Erdoganโ reaffirmed โขTurkey’s commitment to a two-state solution recognizing Palestinian statehood and indicatedโ discussions are ongoingโ regarding potential deployment of Turkishโ troops to gaza,focusing primarily on reconstruction and humanitarian aid,including โขthe possibility of providing container homes.