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by Troy O. Fritzhand
A Palestinian policeman gestures as trucks carrying goods arrive after Israel reopened Kerem Shalom crossing, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Dozens of Israelis formed a human chain at a Gaza border crossing, as protests against the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip continued. The demonstrations have led to the IDF closing off two of the crossings, labeling them as “closed military zones.”
Those gathered against the aid consisted of family members of those being held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as every day Israeli citizens opposed to the entry of goods. Of those, 18 were detailed at the Kerem Shalom crossing, one of the main border points between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Despite the demonstrations, 137 trucks passed through for distribution among Gazans.
The decision to close two of the crossings, Kerem Shalom and Nitzana, came in an announcement by Southern Command Commander Major General Aaron Fineklman, who extended the closure to a highway leading to the border.
The issue of aid into the Strip has been a contentious one since the beginning of the war, when Hamas surprised Israel with a barrage of rockets and an invasion that resulted in the murder of over 1,200 Israelis and the taking hostage of over 240. In the days that followed the attack of October 7, Israeli leaders pledged to not allow any aid in, as well as cutting off water and electricity. Following large international pressure, mainly from the United States, aid, water, and electricity started coming in. Additional aid also accompanied the November hostage deal that saw more than 100 hostages sent free.
Despite this, many Israelis have remained firmly opposed to any entry of aid, especially as it is presumed much of it enters into the hands of Hamas and is used in its war against Israel.
In a poll published by Israel’s Channel 12 on Tuesday, 72% of Israelis said that all aid should be stopped until all the hostages are released, with only 21% supporting its entry. The government has not signaled that they will stop aid at the moment.
