Israel to Open New Aid Corridor Into Northern Gaza

Latest Developments

Israel plans to open a new corridor into northern Gaza to facilitate international humanitarian aid deliveries, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on April 10. “We plan to flood Gaza with aid,” Gallant said. The new entry points “will also streamline security checks and strengthen our work with international partners,” Gallant added.

Israel on April 10 inspected and transferred 298 trucks carrying food, water, shelter equipment, and medical supplies into Gaza. Additionally, 353 food packages were airdropped into the strip. The previous day, Israel facilitated the entry of 468 aid trucks into Gaza, “the highest number of aid trucks that entered Gaza in one day since the start of the war,” the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated on X. Since the war began, Israel has processed 22,000 aid trucks carrying more than 400,000 tons of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the IDF said on April 11. With the series of new measures in place, Israel expects that the average number of deliveries entering Gaza will increase from 350 to 500 aid trucks per day.

Expert Analysis

“Israel is now putting its own interests at risk to find every possible way to prove to the international community that it is committed to getting aid into northern Gaza. In the end, the strategic question facing the United States, Israel, and any country that supports the elimination of Hamas is how to distribute aid in a manner that does not bring Hamas back into positions of power and influence.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“Providing humanitarian aid to civilians is a just cause, but it is important to consider its potential unintended consequences. Hamas and its allies undoubtedly stand to benefit from Israel’s decision to increase aid, and it may be perceived as a sign of weakness or capitulation to pressure from the United States. This could empower Hamas, Iran, and other adversaries to persist in their current tactics and hold out against Israel, as they may believe that mounting pressure will ultimately compel Israel to capitulate and accede to Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Aid Flows to Gaza by Truck, Plane, and Boat

Israel said on April 5 that more aid from Jordan will enter Gaza through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing and that the Port of Ashdod will temporarily receive deliveries for transport to the strip. Israel is already coordinating the delivery of seaborne aid shipments to Gaza through a maritime corridor in partnership with an international aid coalition that includes the European Commission, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Israeli troops will also provide security for U.S. military personnel building a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian aid by sea into the Gaza Strip. Additionally, 62 international airdrops have delivered “over 3,600 packages of food and essentials” since the onset of the war, the IDF said on April 11.

Related Analysis

“Two IDF Officers Dismissed Over Aid Convoy Tragedy,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel to Set Up Coordination Room for Gaza Aid,” FDD Flash Brief

“Egypt Opposes Coalition to Secure Gaza Aid Deliveries,” FDD Flash Brief