While the Gaza flotilla commando operation is long over, the humanitarian aid intended for Gaza and cleared for delivery by Israel remains in Israel due to a dispute between Turkey and Israel.

The items that were on board the flotilla are at the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Tzrifin facility, but Turkey and the IHH insist Israel cannot decide who will receive the humanitarian aid, demanding international intervention to resolve the dispute.

Israel approached the UN liaison in the area regarding the aid, amounting to 60 truckloads including what Israel calls ‘humanitarian aid and medical supplies’.

The IHH wants all the cargo brought into Gaza at once, the above-mentioned items along with cement, but Israel is only willing to permit the items mentioned and the cement will be handed over to UNRWA to construction, seeking to ensure the cement is not used for other purposes. Walla News reports that a senior UNRWA official in Gaza reports no one in Israel made contact with him regarding the cement.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)