Israel rejects allegations it blocks Gaza aid in ‘politicized vetting process’, arrests several truck drivers for terror connections

Israel on Wednesday rejected allegations made by dozens of aid groups claiming that Israel was hampering the distribution process by “politicizing” it. At the same time, Army Radio reported that several aid truck drivers were arrested in recent weeks over suspicions they were connected to terror groups.

“We reject false claims made by over 100 international organizations alleging Israel blocks humanitarian aid to Gaza,” wrote COGAT, the IDF unit responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

COGAT explained that Hamas “seeks to exploit the aid to strengthen its military capabilities and consolidate its control over the population,” which it sometimes does using aid organizations, “whether knowingly or unknowingly.”

The aid groups’ statement especially targeted the new registration requirements implemented by Israel since March. “Under these new rules, registration can be denied on the basis of vague and politicized criteria, such as alleged ‘delegitimization’ of the state of Israel.”

The aid groups further claimed that they are required to file information about their employees and lists of private donors, ominously warning that “NGOs have no guarantees that handing over such information would not put staff at further risk, or be used to advance the government of Israel’s stated military and political aims.”

COGAT responded that the new mechanism’s main goal is to  “ensure that aid reaches the population directly and not Hamas,” explaining that aid groups that want to distribute aid in Gaza must submit lists of the employees for security screening.

“The registration process is based on clear professional and security criteria intended to safeguard the integrity of the humanitarian system while preventing the infiltration of terrorist elements into the aid mechanism. This is a transparent and clear process that was presented to all organizations in advance,” COGAT wrote.

“The refusal of some international organizations to provide the information and cooperate with the registration process raises serious concerns about their true intentions and the possibility of ties between the organization or its employees and Hamas.”

While over 100 groups apparently refused to cooperate, COGAT noted that almost 20 international organizations complied and are bringing aid into the Gaza Strip regularly, noting that around 300 aid trucks are currently entering the enclave per day.

“The alleged delay in aid entry, as claimed by the organizations that signed the statement, occurs only when organizations choose not to meet the basic security requirements intended to prevent Hamas’s involvement.”

Highlighting the seriousness of the Israeli concerns, Army Radio reported on Wednesday that several truck drivers were arrested in recent weeks after suspicions arose that they were involved in terrorism.

In several cases, “humanitarian aid truck drivers were found to be terrorists or involved in terror activities in various ways. Some of these drivers were arrested and are currently under Shin Bet interrogation. In some cases, suspicions even arose regarding their involvement in matters related to the hostages,” according to the report.

Examples cited in the report include one truck driver who was arrested in the area of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, after information indicated that his son was a terrorist who personally abducted Israelis on Oct. 7.

Another driver was arrested in the same area after entering a restricted area. He was later found to be an active terrorist in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and had been released as part of a hostage deal during the war.

A third driver was arrested after intelligence indicated he was a member of Hamas.

An informed source told Army Radio that several additional drivers were suspected of terror ties, though not all were arrested or interrogated.

Some drivers are authorized to enter Israeli territory to transfer the trucks into Gaza, and could use their access either to commit terror attacks in Israel, or to smuggle weapons or other equipment back into Gaza.

In response to the report, the IDF stated, “There is no prohibition on arresting humanitarian aid truck drivers when it is found that they are affiliated with a terrorist organization. Recently, several drivers linked to terror groups have indeed been arrested, and this will continue in the future, provided that relevant intelligence exists.”

Concluding its response to the aid groups’ complaints, COGAT stated, “ Instead of opposing the process and issuing public statements, we call on all international organizations wishing to bring aid into the Gaza Strip - especially those that signed the statement - to act with transparency, complete the registration, and ensure that the aid reaches the civilians, and not Hamas.”