Daijiworld Media Network - Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv, Jul 27: Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen has revealed that a key motivation behind Israel’s decision to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza was to prevent potential European sanctions, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday.
Speaking to Kan’s Reshet Bet radio, Cohen explained that Hamas is attempting to pressure international actors into ending the war by portraying Israel negatively on the world stage. “Hamas wants decisions taken against Israel internationally to force an end to the war while allowing it to survive. We didn’t fall into that trap,” he said.
Cohen, who previously served as Israel’s Foreign Minister, added that consultations with European counterparts prompted Israel to take steps such as approving a new water pipeline into Gaza to demonstrate efforts to alleviate civilian suffering.
Earlier this month, EU foreign ministers stopped short of imposing sanctions on Israel but warned that further diplomatic consequences could follow unless Israel took “more concrete steps” to facilitate humanitarian relief in the region.
However, the move came amid continued bloodshed in Gaza. Twelve Palestinians, including four children, were killed near an aid distribution center south of Gaza City on Sunday, according to reports from The Times of Israel. The Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat confirmed it received 12 bodies and treated more than 100 injured following an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attack in the Netzarim corridor. It remains unclear whether the attack involved an airstrike, shelling, or small arms fire.
The center reportedly belonged to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the IDF has not commented on the specific incident.
Meanwhile, the military announced temporary humanitarian pauses between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. in select areas including al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and parts of Gaza City — regions where the IDF is not currently engaged in ground operations.
Separately, the IDF also confirmed that a soldier was seriously injured in an elevator collapse at the military's Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv. Military Police are investigating the incident, and the findings will be reviewed by the Military Advocate General.
The latest developments underscore the complex interplay of international diplomacy, humanitarian concerns, and ongoing military operations as the Gaza conflict continues to intensify.