Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended this Tuesday that his Government is acting to "alleviate" the situation faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the face of the arrival of winter. His remarks come after criticism sparked by the death of three minors and their mother in the collapse of a sandbank over their tent in the city of Deir al Balá, in the center of the enclave, as a result of the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 100,000 people displaced and severe material damage.
Netanyahu's office released a statement emphasizing that "The State of Israel is working in close cooperation with the United States and the Peace Board. Israel is committed to the success of the 20-point plan of President (Donald) Trump," noting that this roadmap includes the disarmament of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamás).
Netanyahu has highlighted that he has authorized the entry of "more" humanitarian supplies into the Strip "despite Hamás's refusal to meet its commitments," among which he mentions, in addition to disarmament, "to disarm, give up power and begin to de-radicalize Gaza."
In this context, the Israeli leader has accused the Palestinian group of repeating its usual conduct of "the usual thing: lying, stealing, exploiting and rearming itself." He has said that "It has used cement intended for housing construction to build terrorist tunnels, has turned water pipes into launchers for rockets and has used sanitation bombs to make rockets," and he has reiterated his accusations about the "systematic diversion of humanitarian aid (...) while the United Nations and UNRWA turn a blind eye."
For Netanyahu, the Israeli authorities and the Peace Board share "a common challenge": to drive forward the reconstruction of the Strip so that "Hamás does not take advantage of the humanitarian supplies and equipment to rebuild its terrorist capability."
As he has detailed, both sides, in cooperation with the UN, the donor countries and various NGOs, have put in place a device that includes more than 91,000 tents, 8,200 trucks with tarpaulins, blankets, winter clothing and other supplies, as well as a dozen vehicles to pump and remove sewage waters. The plan also includes repair work on the sewage system network and the provision of fuel for the pumping stations.
In the extensive note circulated by his office, the prime minister insists that "Hamas is the only one responsible for the suffering of the population of Gaza and now is cynically exploiting that suffering in order to go back to blaming Israel."