Israel, Greek Cypriot Administration discuss opening maritime aid corridor to Gaza

Israel discussed with the Greek Cypriot Administration the possibility of opening a maritime aid corridor to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos visited facilities at Larnaca port that are planned to be the departure point for aid shipments before sailing to Gaza.

“The creation of a maritime corridor to Gaza will help Israel’s economic disengagement from the strip,” an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement quoted Cohen as saying.

Israel “will not allow a return to the reality that preceded” the Hamas attack on October 7, the minister said.

According to the statement, Israel has been working with GCA and other parties “to promote the establishment of the maritime corridor.”

It is not yet clear if Israel is coordinating with any Palestinian side over the issue.

There was no Palestinian reaction to the report yet.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack by Hamas, killing over 20,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 52,586 others, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins with half of the coastal territory’s housing stock damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million people displaced within the densely-populated enclave amid shortages of food and clean water.

Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack, while more than 130 hostages remain in captivity.

READ: Israel considers creating ‘safe passage’ for Palestinians wanting to leave Gaza