By The opinion
Apr 28, 2024, 7:14 PM EDT
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, spoke this Sunday with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuabout “ongoing negotiations” to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, the White House reported.
In a telephone call, the leaders also discussed the “increase” in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave and the opening of a “new passage” to the north of the Strip this week, according to a statement released by Washington. Biden “underscored the need to continue progress” in the influx of aid and to “improve coordination with humanitarian organizations.”
The White House said Biden reiterated his “clear position” as Israel plans to invade the city of Rafah, further south in Gaza. The United States opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East on Monday.
Biden also emphasized that progress in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza must be “sustained and improved,” according to the statement.
Washington has warned that it will not support an Israeli military operation that does not offer protection for the more than one million displaced Palestinians who have taken refuge in Rafah. and questions the ability to adequately evacuate and care for such a number of civilians.
Meanwhile, Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari assured this Sunday that in the coming days the amount of humanitarian aid that is entering the Gaza Strip will further increase, including food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment. .
“In recent weeks, the amount of aid in Gaza has increased significantly. In the coming days, it will continue to increase more,” he said today in an appearance.
Hagari explained that this increase is due to “the greatest efforts” that have been carried out in recent weeks, such as the opening of the port of Ashdood, in the south of the country, and also the opening of a new crossing in the north of Gaza. .
“We have increased the amount of aid coming from Jordan through the Kerem Shalom crossing“added the Army spokesperson.
On the other hand, he confirmed that they continue to work together with the United States Central Command for the construction of a temporary maritime dock, with the aim of establishing another route to deliver aid to the hungry Gazan population.
Human rights organizations have been accusing Israel for months of turning “hunger into a weapon of war”since they assure that blockades continue to occur at border crossings and that part of this aid does not reach the north of the enclave, where at least 300,000 people are exposed to famine.
Some 27 people have already died from severe acute malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza, 21 of them children, according to data from the Gazan government.
The Army also reported this Sunday afternoon that its troops began various “defensive and offensive” missions last night. in the Palestinian enclave to locate and “destroy” Hamas infrastructure.
“The operations are carried out while protecting the Central Corridor area of the Gaza Strip and taking measures to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid,” they indicated in a military statement.
*With information from EFE.
Keep reading:
– The House moved forward with aid measures for Ukraine and Israel thanks to Democratic legislators
– Israel’s attack on Iran: keys to the report and the G7 position
– The US vetoes the Palestinian attempt to achieve recognition as a State at the UN