Territories coordinator: 'No humanitarian crisis in Gaza'

The Coordinator of Activities in the Territories, Major General Yosef Mishalev told reporters yesterday that the situation in the Gaza Strip was "difficult, but there is no hunger and there is no humanitarian crisis at this time." Mishalev added that his office followed daily developments in Gaza, keeping a log of supplies of essential items and taking the necessary steps to ensure no shortage in food or medicine was felt.

At a press conference at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, the senior Israel Defense Forces officer said Israel had encountered difficulties in transfering essential supplies into the Gaza Strip, because of the many intelligence reports about planned attacks at the crossing points.

According to Mishalev, there is real concern that Palestinians are digging tunnels under crossings and are planning raids similar to the one at Kerem Shalom that resulted in two dead IDF soldiers and the abduction of Corporal Gilad Shalit.

The Karni crossing was closed yesterday after sentries heard underground noises suggesting possible tunneling by militants. However, the IDF intends to reopen the crossing later in the week, after an extensive search is carried out, and larger security forces are deployed.

Israel considers the opening of crossings essential to prevent the possibility of a humanitarian crisis, or the appearance of one, which would affect international public opinion and hinder IDF operations in the Gaza Strip.

Mishalev says that Israel has offered the Palestinians the option of opening Kerem Shalom instead of the Rafah crossing, which is currently closed. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas accepted the Israeli offer, but Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh rejected the idea.

There are currently several thousand Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of the border following the closing of the Rafah crossing after the raid at Kerem Shalom.

Israel allowed 473 persons to cross on humanitarian grounds, but the Palestinians insisted that they only be allowed to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

Israel fears that opening the Rafah crossing may favor Shalit's kidnappers.

During the press conference, Mishalev also specified the status of basic supplies in the Gaza Strip, and noted that there was a shortage in milk products and sugar, but that there were sufficient supplies of rice, flour, oil and fuels.