Peace Council Pressures Israel to Open Gaza Crossings and Deliver Winter Aid

The US-backed Peace Council called on the Israeli government to allow immediate entry of additional humanitarian aid and winter supplies into the Gaza Strip, warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis amid rainfall and flooding, and stating that Israeli delays also obstruct the start of the process to disarm Hamas and transfer authority in the territory.

In a statement, the Council expressed deep concern over severe seasonal floods that hit Gaza over the past two days, describing the situation as an urgent humanitarian emergency. More than 70,000 tents were damaged by heavy rain during the weekend, affecting tens of thousands of displaced people and injuring several individuals.

The statement also noted the collapse of a sand dam in a displacement camp in Deir al-Balah in the central sector, which resulted in at least five deaths.

The Council emphasized that the delivery and distribution of shelter materials, sanitation supplies, and other winter necessities are crucial for protecting civilian lives, warning against preventable humanitarian crises.

It clarified that it had urged the Israeli government to permit the entry of materials needed for temporary shelter, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, and sewage removal, while adhering to its commitments under the Sharm El-Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol.

Conversely, the Council blamed Hamas for refusing to disarm and relinquish power, stating that it had repeatedly pressured the movement to agree to surrender its weapons and fulfill its obligations under the fifteen-point plan supported by US President Donald Trump for disarming the group.

The statement considered that the lack of progress in this matter has increased the difficulty of addressing the needs of Gaza's civilian population, noting that Hamas's continued retention of weapons and power hinders the implementation of the plan.

The Council acknowledged the steps currently being studied by the Israeli government but described its response as insufficient, calling on Benjamin Netanyahu's government to act immediately to facilitate the entry of all humanitarian supplies and materials necessary for winter preparedness, and to implement its commitments under the comprehensive peace plan.

It added that Israeli delays have exacerbated the repercussions of an anticipated humanitarian crisis and significantly postponed the start of the disarmament process and the transfer of power from Hamas to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

The statement comes after Nikolay Mladenov, the Chief Envoy of the Peace Council, and Tony Blair, the Council's Chief Executive Officer, visited Israel last week to pressure Netanyahu to move forward with implementing the Trump plan regarding Gaza, following the conclusion of the Israeli elections.