Here is a story that you will probably not see in the mainstream media.
For the past few months, the IDF has been operating a hotline to address problems faced by Palestinian residents in the Gaza Strip. The call center is manned by two operators 24 hours a day and addresses problems related to various issues, including health, sanitation, and connection with aid organizations. According to an IDF source, the hotline deals with 150 requests per week on average.
“This is a humanitarian hotline, aimed at showing Palestinians a light at the end of the tunnel and indicate to them that there is another way, so they don’t think there’s nobody to talk to”, said the source.
Sometimes, operators at the center face surprising situations. Recently, a Palestinian caller reported that terrorists are attempting to launch mortar shells from his backyard and that he is trying to drive them away. The Palestinian requested that the army refrain from firing at his home, and the IDF handled the situation accordingly.
In another case, a Palestinian reported that doctors were intending to disconnect his elderly mother from a respirator in light of overcrowded conditions at the hospital. IDF soldiers facilitated the evacuation of the woman to an Israeli hospital, where her condition was stabilized before she was taken back to Gaza.
Update: Here is some information on IDF humanitarian assistance in Rafah.
