Israel to Intensify Gaza Humanitarian Aid after Biden's Urging
The office of the Prime Minister of Israel announced that, following an attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy and a "tense conversation" Netanyahu had with the President of the USA, the security cabinet decided to take "immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip". Two checkpoints have been opened.
The White House called on Israel Thursday evening UK Time to quickly implement the intensification of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, as announced by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Tense conversation" with Biden
These measures, which include commitments to open Asdod port (...) and the opening of the Erez border crossing (...), along with significantly increased aid deliveries from Jordan directly to the Gaza Strip, must now be implemented swiftly and completely, stated Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
Earlier, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister announced that the Israeli security cabinet, following an attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy and a "tense conversation" Netanyahu had with US President Joe Biden, decided to take immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
According to the statement, Israel will temporarily open Asdod port for humanitarian aid deliveries, located about 40km north of the Gaza Strip, and for the first time since 7 October of last year, open the Erez border crossing between the northern Gaza Strip and southern Israel.
Tel Aviv will also increase the size of aid from Jordan, which will be transported through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
"The war cabinet authorized the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Minister Benny Gantz to take immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," - announced Netanyahu's office in a statement. "This increased aid will help alleviate the humanitarian crisis and is necessary for the continuation of fighting and achieving war objectives" - it was added.
Brutal attack on a humanitarian convoy
On Tuesday, seven volunteers from the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen, including a Pole, Damian Soból, were killed in the Gaza Strip. The organization reported that the Israeli army shot them. The incident occurred while the workers were delivering food aid, which had arrived in the Gaza Strip a few hours earlier by ship from Cyprus.
source: Times of Israel / PAP
