Mladenov made the appeal in a letter addressed to Yoram Halevi, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), in response to the latter’s decision to suspend the entry of goods into Gaza through private traders until further notice. This channel serves as the main route through which most goods enter the Strip.
In his letter, excerpts of which were published by Haaretz, Mladenov warned that halting the entry of goods through the private sector could pave the way for similar restrictions on humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza by the United Nations and international organizations.
He urged the Israeli government to immediately approve the launch of a pilot program under which the Palestinian technocratic committee and the International Stabilization Force would begin carrying out their duties in a limited area of Rafah, currently under Israeli military control and, according to the report, without a Hamas presence.
International Stabilization Force
In late July, Israel’s political-security cabinet approved the entry of a limited number of International Stabilization Force troops into the Rafah area, on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
The decision was subsequently revoked following pressure from ministers affiliated with the Religious Zionism camp. In late August, Netanyahu announced that the force’s entry had not been approved.
In his letter, Mladenov called for approval to allow the technocratic committee and the International Stabilization Force to expand their activities across the Gaza Strip in the phase following the pilot program.
Such a move would pave the way for the disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of administration of the Strip from the movement to the technocratic committee, he said.
Mladenov also urged the Israeli government to cooperate with the Board of Peace and develop a new plan to regulate the supply of goods to Gaza, noting that the issue remains under discussion between representatives of the board and the Israeli government.
Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Measures
Regarding the humanitarian situation, Mladenov urged the Israeli military to work with the Board of Peace to find solutions to the worsening crisis in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the areas of temporary housing, sanitation, hygiene and medical care.
According to Haaretz, Israel is preventing the entry of relief convoys intended to address these needs, treating them as part of broader reconstruction efforts and linking permission for their entry to the disarmament of Hamas.
Israel has also imposed restrictions on the entry of permanent tents, citing security concerns, the report said.
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