Israel is ready to allow ships to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip as part of a proposed sea corridor from Cyprus, announced Israel’s Foreign Minister on Sunday, as cited by Reuters.
“It can start immediately,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said to Tel Aviv radio station 103 FM, as reported by Reuters.
Additionally, Cohen explained that Britain, France, Greece, and the Netherlands were among the countries with vessels capable of landing directly on the shore of Gaza. He denied that the equipment came via Ashdod, an Israeli port, despite the request of the European countries.
Cyprus has proposed establishing a humanitarian corridor to collect, inspect, and store aid on the east Mediterranean island before shipping it to Gaza, which is approximately 210 nautical miles away. The initiative aims to enhance humanitarian relief to Gaza by importing large volumes by ship instead of the limited deliveries by truck through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Nicosia has stated that it is ready to deliver large quantities of aid through this “maritime lifeline,” which is expected to provide “a sustained flow of high-volume humanitarian assistance to the civilians” in Gaza.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
