JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that U.S. companies would begin distributing food to Palestinians in Gaza in the coming days, in areas secured by Israeli forces.
"American companies will distribute the food directly to Palestinian families. They'll do so in safe zones secured by our military," Netanyahu said in a video statement.
"We'll complete the construction of the first distribution zones in the coming days," he added. "Ultimately, we intend to have large safe zones in the south of Gaza. The Palestinian population will move there for their own safety, while we conduct combat in other zones."
He said the plan would enable Israel "to complete our goal of destroying Hamas while enabling aid to reach the civilian population."
The move comes as Israel was drastically intensifying its onslaught in Gaza with the launching of Operation Gideon's Chariots, an offensive that includes seizing the entire enclave and displacing the population southward.
The Israeli assaults in the besieged enclave have killed at least 53,762 people and wounded 122,197 others since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza's health authorities.
After growing international pressure, about 100 aid trucks were allowed into Gaza in recent days, according to figures from Israel's Defense Ministry. The delivery followed an 11-week blockade that halted all food, medicine, and fuel. The United Nations has warned that famine has spread across the enclave. The UN said trucks were delayed on the Palestinian side of the crossing due to Israeli-imposed security procedures. ■
