The post In 1st since Israel took control of Rafah crossing, Egypt delivers aid to Gaza during wartime appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned it as a “reward for terror,” while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “reckless decision” and “a slap in the face” to the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called Israel's denial of humanitarian aid in Gaza a violation of international law. In a news statement on Thursday, he pressed for Israel's control of aid distribution to be replaced amid reports of mass starvation in Gaza.

Israel has long restricted aid to Gaza on the argument that Hamas steals it to use as a weapon of control over the population. On Saturday, the Israeli military announced new airdrops of aid.

In June, a yacht with 12 activists on board - including Sweden's Greta Thunberg - was intercepted by the Israeli military about 185km (115 miles) west of Gaza. That expedition, also organised by the FFC, had been aiming to deliver aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel's blockade and to highlight the humanitarian crisis there.

The context surrounding GHF operations and the environment in which these alleged incidents occurred deserves examination alongside the serious and unverified claims being made. Opinion.