Tel Aviv, Israel – July 24, 2025 – Israeli President Isaac Herzog has launched a scathing attack on Hamas during a visit to the Gaza Strip, accusing the group of hijacking humanitarian aid, obstructing efforts for a ceasefire, and holding both Israeli hostages and Gaza’s civilian population in captivity.
“It is the terrorists of Hamas hijacking aid, and refusing to agree to a hostage release and ceasefire, who are kidnapping the civilian Gaza population and subjecting them to their tragic suffering,” Herzog stated on Wednesday after meeting with Israeli commanders and soldiers on the frontlines.
Herzog reported receiving a detailed update on the situation inside Gaza, asserting that substantial volumes of aid are entering the Strip through coordinated efforts by Israel, the UN, and the EU. However, he alleged that Hamas is actively preventing its proper distribution. “Huge quantities of aid are flowing in – in conjunction with UN and EU efforts agreed by Israel. Hamas loots the aid and prevents its proper distribution,” Herzog posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He further emphasized Israel’s commitment to international humanitarian law. “Even in the midst of war, we are doing everything possible to help civilians in need – in keeping with international law, and our Israeli and Jewish values,” he added.
The President urged global leaders to cease echoing what he termed “Hamas propaganda and lies” and instead demand the immediate release of the hostages. “I urge leaders from around the world to look at the facts, to see the reality… and hold Hamas accountable for its crimes against both Israelis and Palestinians,” Herzog said.
During his visit, Herzog also met with troops involved in Israel’s ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’ underground network and retrieving the remaining hostages.
In a related development, the Israeli foreign ministry categorically rejected statements made by several international organizations concerning the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza, accusing them of “serving the propaganda of Hamas.”
“These organizations are serving the propaganda of Hamas, using their numbers and justifying their horrors. Instead of challenging the terror organization, they embrace it as their own,” the ministry’s statement asserted.
Israel contended that such statements are detrimental to ongoing ceasefire negotiations. “In this critical time of negotiations, they are echoing Hamas’s propaganda and harming the chances for a ceasefire,” the statement added.
According to the ministry’s statement, nearly 4,500 trucks have entered Gaza carrying food, flour, and baby formula. Israel claimed that over 700 aid trucks are currently inside Gaza but are waiting to be picked up by the UN. “This bottleneck is the main obstacle to maintaining a consistent flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. For some, the obsession with attacking Israel is more important than helping the people of Gaza,” the statement concluded. Sources