Kerem Shalom border crossing

"We will continue to plant, to build, to nurture life, and to choose hope. And so our answer is one and the same: to keep planting, building, nurturing life, and choosing hope,” Herzog said.

The officer, whose identifying details are barred from publication, was charged with aiding the enemy, taking a bribe, aggravated smuggling, attempted aggravated smuggling, fraud, and breach of trust.

An IDF lieutenant has been charged with smuggling goods into Gaza, using his military role to facilitate the operation in exchange for a bribe.

"This is a serious violation of the mechanisms for receiving aid, and that Hamas continues to try to exploit the aid mechanism for terrorist activity and incitement," COGAT warned in a letter.

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) noted on March 2 that “Israel is not arbitrarily blocking aid into Gaza.”

Hundreds of kilograms of tobacco hidden in canned food products were seized at the Kerem Shalom crossing, prompting COGAT to suspend the company’s permit to bring aid into Gaza.

Delivered aid included tents and tarps, humanitarian staff, and the evacuation of Gazans in need of medical treatment and those with dual citizenship.

Yisrael Beytenu chairperson Avigdor Liberman says taxpayer money is being used to supply electricity and water in the Strip. 

IDF officials identified Hamas’s struggle in Gaza, after more than two years of war have left it without stocks of standard explosives, to obtain weapons as well as additional equipment.

Nearly 300 Gazans needing medical care left Gaza via Israel and Jordan for treatment abroad after vetting and coordination with global partners.