Hundreds of Tzav 9 demonstrators blocked humanitarian aid trucks designated for the Gaza Strip at the Kerem Shalom crossing on Friday morning for the first time in several months.
The organization cited Hamas violating the hostage deal, killing two IDF soldiers, and failing to return the killed hostages as reasons for blocking the aid.
Reut Ben-Chaim, the organization’s chair, addressed US President Trump in English: “Remember October 7 - these trucks are an absurd failure. These trucks are literally the weapons of Hamas, which you, Mr. President, ordered to dismantle. These murderers killed two of our soldiers this week and severely wounded another – this is not just an 'incident.'
“They refuse to return the deceased hostages to us, in violation of the agreement they signed with you. We cannot move to phase B – we cannot give gifts to murderers and let them prepare for the next massacre. We, the residents of the Gaza border, demand that no aid passes until the last of our fallen returns home," Ben-Chaim continued.
The demonstration was organized at the last minute. Demonstrators include residents from the Gaza border area, reservists, and Israelis from across the country.
The organization demands the return of the killed hostages, the destruction of Hamas’s weaponry, and that “not a single hair of our soldiers' heads falls.
“We will not compromise on our security – the security of the Gaza border residents. The Jewish people have risen, and we say: Enough feeding Hamas!"
New system for delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza
The United States is considering a proposal for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza that would replace the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Reuters reported Thursday.
It is one of several concepts being explored, two US officials and a humanitarian official familiar with the plan told the news agency, as Washington seeks to facilitate increased deliveries of assistance to the Strip.
“Multiple approaches are being considered to effectively get aid to the people of Gaza – nothing is finalized,” said a senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Reuters contributed to this report.