Israel announced its readiness to permit ships to deliver aid to the war-torn Gaza Strip through a proposed sea corridor from Cyprus. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen mentioned that the plan, initially proposed by Nicosia in November, could begin “immediately” and identified Britain, France, Greece, and the Netherlands as potential participants.
The suggested corridor involves conducting security inspections on cargo in the Cypriot port of Larnaca before transporting it to the Gaza coast, bypassing neighboring Egypt or Israel. If implemented, this would mark the first easing of the Israeli naval blockade imposed on Gaza in 2007 following the seizure of control by militant Hamas Islamists.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen emphasized the intention to disengage from direct civilian ties with Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a 12-week offensive in response to cross-border incidents orchestrated by Hamas gunmen. With a significant humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinian civilians, the proposed sea corridor aligns with a UN Security Council resolution from December 22, calling for expanded humanitarian relief mechanisms.
Cohen specified that the United Kingdom, France, Greece, and the Netherlands possess vessels capable of landing directly on Gaza’s shores, implying a preference for direct aid delivery rather than offloading in Israel. He rejected requests for aid to come via the Israeli port of Ashdod, emphasizing the goal of disengagement with security control.
While the Dutch Defence Ministry expressed readiness, stating no formal request had been received, there was no immediate response from London, Paris, or Athens. Britain and Greece had previously expressed support for the Cypriot initiative, with Britain offering shallow-bottomed vessels.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis endorsed the plan, involving Israeli security agents in Larnaca inspections. Cohen assured that the proposed corridor would be a secured route, coordinating with participating countries to ensure the safety of aid ships.
Currently, European and Arab donor countries send aid to Gaza through Egypt’s Al Arish, monitored by Israel. In a move on Saturday, Israel signaled intentions to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border zone as part of demilitarization efforts in the enclave.
