Gaza aid piles up amid dispute over whether aid workers can muster radios, protection equipment

US aid destined to aid Gaza civilians lies unused on the beach within the war-torn strip due to a long-running dispute between the United Nations and Israel over whether aid workers in control of supply distribution can enhance security Or not equipment, radios and alternative delicate equipment, according to several officials regular with status and documentation obtained through ABC Information.

Israel, which carefully monitors anything entering Gaza, has largely blocked aid workers from bringing micro security equipment due to concerns that this equipment could ultimately reach Hamas.

The dispute reached a crescendo on this day, after UN officials threatened to suspend humanitarian aid operations across Gaza unless their demands for security arrangements were met, following which the UN and Israel High-level private meetings took place in Washington between Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Who traveled to the US for a face-to-face conference on the Pentagon and White Space.

Muhannad Hadi, a leading UN professional, wrote in a June 17 letter instructing Israel Security Forces, “The UN must develop an effective and credible set of security protocols and tools to help manage this risk in the (Gaza) Strip.” Wants set up.” ,

“In my opinion, Gallant is pushing to solve the problem and get humanitarian aid moving again,” an Israeli defense expert said. In a comment, Gallant noted that discussions are continuing “to further address needs at the grassroots level and see what can be improved.”

Gallant noted in a comment, “As I have stressed from the beginning of the war – our war is with Hamas, not with the civilian population of Gaza.” “My policy as Defense Minister is full commitment to humanitarian efforts and full cooperation with the international community to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip and especially in Mwasi (a town on the southern coast of Gaza) and the remaining humanitarian areas. “

The war of words between the United Nations and Israel has made it very difficult for the United States to intensify efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza – a concern for President Joe Biden as he is well off his birthday party for delivering massive aid. Have to face complaints. Israeli military action in Gaza following the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Biden ordered the US Navy to build a pier in the hope that a long-term sea corridor could help expedite humanitarian goods and supplement aid arriving through the Garden crossing. Despite this, the ferry has struggled to make a tangible impact on the worsening hunger situation, as high seas have forced it to close several times during its six weeks of operation.

The Pentagon announced Friday that the pier was being taken offline again on Friday as discussions continued over whether to restore it.

A more pressing factor than the operating capacity of the ferries so far has been delivery. The pier was being used to store a large portion of the nineteen million kilos of aid that had already been distributed, then the United Nations International Food Program – the only real group to distribute aid – immediately halted distribution and then on June 8 A hostage rescue operation was conducted. Through Israeli soldiers who came dangerously close to the pier.

One professional mentioned that there is a business at the desk for WFP to deposit aid as a one-time measure on the beach. However, widespread distribution of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza is on hold until both sides reach a consensus.

In a June 17 letter obtained by ABC News, the UN’s Hadi said the aid group needed specific pieces before it could resume aid, including a “working mechanism for operational coordination with the IDF” that would ” To be able to. Direct contact between support staff and IDF brigades.

The letter also mentioned allowing aid workers armored cars, supplemental parts, 100 units of personal protective equipment and complex communications equipment including satellite web terminals and digital SIM cards so that workers can easily connect. A non-public 4G cell network.

“Access to this equipment will be strictly limited to individuals who are actively employed by joint national/international organizations operating in Gaza. Stringent security measures will be in place to protect the system from any potential inappropriate use and ensure compliance with approving authorities ,” Hadi wrote to Israel’s Maj. Gen. Ghassan Elyon, who attended the conference in Washington with U.N. officials to talk about the topic.

Several US officials said they considered the requests reasonable and supported Israel in allowing those sections inside Gaza.

The United Nations declined to comment on the specifics of the letter, which was not publicly acknowledged.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that the security situation in Gaza is part of an “ongoing discussion” with Israel.

“We’re just trying to have the basic equipment to allow us to conduct operations in a war zone,” he instructed ABC Information.

ABC Information’s Luis Martinez, Jordana Miller and Dana Sawyer contributed to this file.