Israel Announces Humanitarian Aid to South Sudan Amid Gaza Crisis

JERUSALEM: Israel on Monday announced it will provide emergency humanitarian assistance to South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest nations, which is currently facing renewed political instability and a cholera outbreak.

The announcement came from Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, following media reports that Israel had held talks with South Sudan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, a claim firmly denied by South Sudanese authorities.

“In light of the severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, Israel will deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations,” Saar’s office said.
“The aid will include essential medical supplies for treating patients, water purification equipment, gloves and face masks, hygiene kits to prevent cholera, and food packages.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel visited Juba, the South Sudanese capital, last week to discuss coordination and delivery of the aid.

The announcement comes as Gaza continues to face a worsening humanitarian disaster amid the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict, now in its 23rd month. More than two million Palestinians are affected by food shortages, restricted medical supplies, and repeated looting of aid convoys.

Rights group Amnesty International accused Israel of implementing a “deliberate policy” of starvation in Gaza, targeting the health and social well-being of Palestinian civilians. Israel has rejected these allegations.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has claimed 1,219 Israeli lives, mostly civilians, and over 62,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN considers a reliable source.