Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods into Gaza through local traders, said COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls aid.
"This decision aims to increase the volume of aid entering Gaza and at the same time reduce dependence on aid distribution by the United Nations and other international organizations," the agency said on August 5.
Last week, Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union - said it was preparing to coordinate with the Red Cross to send aid to the hostages it is holding in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions.
This announcement by the radical Palestinian group came after a video was released showing a severely emaciated hostage, which prompted harsh criticism from Western powers.
UN officials and Palestinians say that nearly 600 aid trucks need to enter Gaza every day to meet humanitarian needs - the number that Israel allowed into the Palestinian territory before the war began.
The Gaza War began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others, according to Israeli figures.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of the Israeli offensive, according to the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians killed when publishing casualty figures.
According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages are in Gaza and only 20 of them are believed to be alive. So far, Hamas has prevented humanitarian organizations from having any access to the hostages, while their families have little or no information about their condition. /REL (A2 Televizion)
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