Gulf Nations Commit $100 Million in Immediate Assistance to Gaza

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Pledges $100 Million in Emergency Assistance for Gaza Amidst Israeli Strikes.
In response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Gulf Cooperation Council declared on Tuesday a donation of $100 million for emergency relief efforts in the region. This decision comes as the Israeli military continues its operations against Hamas militants within Gaza.

The decision followed an urgent meeting of foreign ministers in Muscat where the bloc promised to initiate a "swift humanitarian aid mission" with the designated amount of $100 million.
Representatives from the six member nations of the GCC - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - convened in light of recent events. Among these incidents, Hamas reported that a Gaza hospital complex sheltering displaced citizens had been struck, losing at least 200 lives.

The conflict escalated when Hamas militants breached Israel's robustly defended Gaza border approximately 11 days prior, leading to the reported casualties of over 1,400 individuals in southern Israel. As a countermeasure, Israeli bombing raids have killed an estimated 3,000 individuals in Gaza.

The outcome of the GCC conference included a commitment to "guarantee the prompt allocation of this aid." However, specifics regarding its delivery to Gaza remain undisclosed.

In recent events, several Gulf nations have transported aid to El Arish in Egypt, intending to forward it via the Rafah border - the sole entry point into Gaza not overseen by Israel.

On the same day, relief officials reported the movement of numerous supply-filled trucks journeying the 40-kilometer (25-mile) stretch between El Arish and Rafah. Despite these efforts, Egypt has thus far sealed off the Rafah crossing, inhibiting both incoming aid and the departure of foreign nationals, mainly as Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted the Palestinian segment of this border.

In a subsequent statement on the GCC website, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi implored the global community to "insist on an immediate cessation of military aggression against unarmed Gaza civilians."

The statement also emphasized that the international community must "unequivocally denounce any propositions to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza, as such actions contravene fundamental human rights and global standards.