Israel sends aid to South Sudan whilst blocking aid to Gaza
Israel said on August 18th that it will send humanitarian aid to South Sudan, despite simultaneously blocking aid to the Gaza Strip, which has left the Gazan population experiencing famine and subsequent death, according to Middle East Monitor via Anadolu Agency.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Israel would provide emergency assistance to South Sudan. This follows a cholera outbreak, which has been spreading since September 2024.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said this decision comes “amid reports of discussions with South Sudan” regarding the proposed “transfer of Gaza residents to its territory.” However, Juba has denied this apparent agreement.
The daily Israel Hayom reported that the aid package will include basic medical supplies, water purification equipment, and food parcels. This will be overseen by the Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
The announcement has sparked attention, as Israel has kept Gaza’s crossings shut since March 2nd. This has prevented the entry of humanitarian convoys and allowed in only limited quantities, which is not enough for those in Gaza, who are suffering, as a result.
Rights groups have accused Israel of intentionally using starvation as a weapon of war against Gaza’s population. On August 18th, Amnesty International accused Israel of carrying out a “deliberate campaign of starvation” in Gaza and “systematically destroying the health, well-being and social fabric of Palestinian life.”
In July, Saar hosted South Sudanese Foreign Minister Mundi Samaia Kumba in Jerusalem. He thanked him for his nation’s support for Israel. Foreign media outlets have reported that South Sudan had given initial approval to receive Palestinians displaced from Gaza in return for Israeli investments. At a later stage, Juba denied the “baseless” claim. South Sudan’s foreign affairs ministry also rejected claims that their country held talks with Israel on August 13th about Palestinian resettlement. This was after the arrival of a top Israeli diplomat in South Sudan.
Israel has killed over 61,900 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haksel said that “while the international community is focused solely on Gaza, South Sudan is facing a real humanitarian crisis… the threat of genuine famine.”Â
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This was for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its Gaza conflict.Â
Middle East Monitor via Anadolu Agency, Maghrebi.org
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