The Truth about Humanitarian Aid - from Entry to Distribution

Some claim that Israel is deliberately depriving civilians in Gaza of humanitarian aid. I’m here to give you the facts.

We're not targeting the sick - we’re flying them out for treatment. We’re not blocking aid - we’re facilitating its entry.

Meanwhile, Hamas is booby-trapping humanitarian corridors, stealing shipments, and using sick children as tools in its propaganda war.

Today marks the 683th day of the Swords of Iron War. As our forces continue essential operations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and respond to ongoing threats, the IDF remains committed to safeguarding Israeli civilians. In addition, we are working around the clock to facilitate the safe entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Millions of meals are being delivered through distribution sites by the American organization GHF. According to the organization, they have distributed over 127 million meals directly to Gazan civilians. Just recently, the GHF distributed over 1.4 million meals.

Let's make a few things clear:

There is no doubt that the people of Gaza are facing hardships in this war - and that is exactly why it is so important the aid goes directly to them and not Hamas.

There is no blockade on aid on behalf of Israel. Israel has allowed and facilitated the entry of aid - over 1.9 million tons have entered throughout the war.

The IDF has worked tirelessly in order to ensure that Gazan civilians receive their aid:

• The IDF has increased water supply for Gazans: work began to connect the Emirati water line from the desalination plant in Egypt to the Al-Mawasi area along the coast.

• The line will provide safe drinking water to around 600,000 residents and operate independently of Israeli water pipelines.

• (July 30), along the coast. Work is expected to take several weeks.

• The IDF is facilitating aid delivery to the Gazans through airdrops.

• The airdrops are delivered through COGAT and international organizations.

• We deliver pallets containing flour, sugar, and canned food.

• We’ve enabled vaccine delivery, including polio vaccines, to promote disease immunity among Gazans.

• We are now facilitating private-sector aid into Gaza, allowing qualified local merchants to import basic necessities such as food, baby formula, fresh produce, and hygiene items.

• We have also employed daily tactical pauses in which military activity is paused in order to conduct humanitarian aid distributions.

• The IDF has established crossings to enable the entrance of aid and supervise its distribution and collection.

Photos of humanitarian aid boxes filled with aid on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Let the facts speak:

Hundreds of trucks loaded with aid are waiting inside Gaza for collection by the international community, all inspected and approved by Israel. This has been the reality, every single day, for months.

Despite these tangible efforts, false accusations continue to circulate, claiming that Israel is deliberately starving children in Gaza.

The truth is, Hamas twists the narrative of deliberate starvation.

Recently, graphic photos of apparently starving children in Gaza have taken to the international stage. Meet Osama al-Rakab, who was manipulated by Hamas’ propaganda games. Photos spread, portraying him as a recent victim of famine, just five years old and starving to death. Osama has become the poster child of Hamas’ starvation campaign against the State of Israel.

Photo of Osama after receiving treatment for his pre-existing medical condition, next to a photo of ‘starving’ Osama

“Osama suffers from a serious genetic illness unrelated to the war.”

- COGAT

Now, if Hamas hadn’t used lies and the suffering of the Gazan population to hide behind the truth, this would have been a tragic story. In reality, Osama is healthy and receiving medical treatment in Italy for a pre-existing condition unrelated to malnutrition. In fact, it was Israel that facilitated his transfer out of Gaza through the Ramon Airport for his rehabilitation. The use of outdated images and false context was part of an effort to misrepresent his condition and exploit his case for propaganda purposes.

In the IDF, we are able to recognize multiple truths at once. We understand the complexity of the situation in Gaza, therefore, we go to great efforts to facilitate aid for vulnerable civilian populations.

“This war is complex. Its cost is painful on both sides. Let us not forget, the tragedy that Hamas inflicted on both the people of Israel and the people of Gaza, by launching a war and embedding itself within civilian areas, must not be ignored.”

- IDF Spokesperson, BG Effie Defrin

The Core of our Mission:

We continue to fight for the safety of our civilians on all fronts. And above all, it is important to remember our top priority and a topic that never leaves the front of our minds: the hostages. After over 20 months of war, 50 hostages still remain in brutal conditions in Hamas captivity.

“Returning the 50 hostages who remain in Hamas’ brutal captivity is a moral obligation that stands before our eyes in every aspect of our operations.”

But let’s be clear: Hamas started this war - and Hamas is the one refusing to end it.

While Israel has repeatedly supported internationally brokered ceasefire proposals, Hamas has continued to reject them. This war could have ended long ago - if Hamas had simply chosen to release the hostages.

As the war continues, Hamas’ brutality towards the hostages persists.

Hamas released a second video of 24 year old hostage Evyatar David. In this video, Evytar is hauntingly thin and is shown digging his own grave.

Hamas is starving Israeli hostages to skin and bones, while they themselves are well fed off of stolen humanitarian aid.

Released hostage Tal Shoham, having spent most of his 505 days in captivity with Evyatar, reacted to the propaganda video.

“This is a deliberate starvation by Hamas.” - released hostage Tal Shoham

Tal recalled being held in the same tunnel where Evyatar appeared, and said that off-air, terrorists enjoyed air conditioning and plenty of stolen food from aid deliveries - just a few meters away.

This war could have been over if Hamas had chosen to release the hostages and surrender. Instead, Hamas chose this reality.

We will continue to operate to return the remaining hostages home and fight Hamas’ terror while taking tangible steps to ensure that aid is delivered to Gazan civilians, without it being diverted by Hamas.

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Until next time,

LTC Nadav Shoshani