Israel has offered Syria the opportunity to transfer humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, a source familiar with the talks told The Jerusalem Post.
The proposal was raised during meetings between Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, other senior Israeli officials, and top members of the al-Shaara regime.
The offer to Syria comes against the backdrop of some progress in discussions over a potential security arrangement between the two countries. In recent weeks, Dermer has met several times with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, under the auspices of US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack.
In recent months, Israel has also allowed countries with which it has no diplomatic relations, such as Indonesia, to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the Israeli initiative included a proposal whereby Syria would provide the humanitarian aid while Israel would facilitate its delivery, either through airdrops or by transporting it via trucks.
Syria signals good signs of willigness to coooperate, future talks
It remains unclear whether the Syrians will accept Israel’s offer, but the move nevertheless signals a degree of rapprochement between the two states. US Congressman Joe Wilson (R–South Carolina), who recently visited Syria and met with Syrian President al-Shaara, told The Jerusalem Post that at one point during their meeting, the Syrian leader even raised the issue of the Abraham Accords.
“Of course, it’s early, but who would have imagined that a Syrian president would bring up such a possibility? If Assad were still alive, this would never have happened,” Wilson said.
The US administration is eager to see progress toward a security agreement between Israel and Syria by the time of the UN General Assembly in two weeks, which both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian President al-Shaara are expected to attend.