United States: Joe Biden’s administration has announced that Israel consented to open another crossing into Gaza to increase aid supplies. This move aimed at assuaging the US president’s rising frustration over the ominous humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The statement regarding the Israeli government’s response to President Biden’s concerns about civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza came hours after a tense phone call between the President and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the conversation, Biden was intimidated to condition future support for Israel based on how it addresses his concerns.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council stated that Israel agreed to facilitate the entry of aid into northern Gaza by opening the Erez crossing, using the port of Ashdod to direct aid into the enclave, and significantly boosting aid deliveries from Jordan, all at the president’s request.
According to reports, the war cabinet of the country has approved certain measures. The provisions were made to allow the ‘temporary’ benefit of the Erez crossing and port of Ashdod, which is located about 16 miles north of Gaza on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. The United Nations warned that famine looms after nearly six months of war, and as a result, Israel is under increasing stress from US officials and humanitarian agencies to open more border crossings for aid.
President Biden become more and more critical of Israel’s handling of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. He believes that Israel needs to do more to safeguard civilians. The recent killing of seven aid workers by Israeli forces seems to intensified his concerns. Biden expressed that he was ‘outraged’ and that Israel ‘not done enough to protect civilians.’
The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza caused people to rush to aid trucks, and aid organisations struggled to provide supplies due to Israeli regulations and widespread lawlessness. The situation in Gaza worsens after the death of 7 aid workers and fears that aid services will end. World Central Kitchen suspended its services in Gaza. And other aid service agencies are afraid to operate in the area.
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