Israel will increase the amount of aid entering Gaza in a gradual and controlled way, using local merchants to reduce reliance on the U.N. agencies and international organizations, an Israeli military agency that coordinates aid said on Tuesday.
The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said that under a cabinet-approved mechanism, a limited number of local merchants will be involved in distributing aid. The merchants will undergo security screenings and must meet specific criteria, the agency said.
