In response to a statement issued by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz regarding the halt of humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, the United Nations said Israel has briefed the agency and humanitarian aid suppliers on a “new authorisation mechanism that would introduce greater control over aid delivery in Gaza by Israeli forces”, Al Jazeera reports.

The UN stated that aid organisations already have mechanisms to ensure that aid is not diverted to Hamas and that they are “ready to deliver assistance to those most in need based on humanitarian principles”.

“Aid delivery into Gaza has for too long been obstructed,” the UN stated. “Further control over aid operations by a party to the conflict would risk aid not reaching the most vulnerable at a time when it is needed the most”.