The United Nations has issued a stark warning of an impending famine in northern Gaza. Despite repeated pleas from humanitarian organizations for access to Israel’s Ashdod port, located approximately 20 miles (30km) away, such requests had been consistently denied.
In a significant shift in policy, Israel’s security cabinet has now agreed to temporarily open the port for aid deliveries. Additionally, the Erez crossing, the nearest entry point to Gaza, will be reopened for the first time since the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7. Furthermore, there will be an increase in the volume of aid passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza from Jordan.
These decisions swiftly followed a thirty-minute conversation between President Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, occurring shortly after an Israeli strike claimed the lives of individuals from the US charity, World Central Kitchen.
According to a summary of the telephone discussion, lasting less than 30 minutes, the White House highlighted the president’s emphasis on the unacceptable nature of the strikes on humanitarian workers and the dire humanitarian situation.
The summary stated that Biden underscored the imperative for Israel to declare and execute a series of precise, tangible, and assessable measures to mitigate civilian casualties, alleviate humanitarian suffering, and ensure the safety of aid workers.
Biden’s dialogue with Netanyahu coincided with mounting domestic discontent over Israel’s actions in Gaza and increasing calls within his party to impose conditions on arms transfers.
President Biden has explicitly warned that he will reconsider his support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza unless there is a change in tactics. The United States plays a crucial role by providing essential military supplies and offering diplomatic support for Israel on the global stage. However, recent events have exacerbated tensions between the long-standing allies.
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