US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli authorities to improve their facilitation of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, amid warnings from the United Nations and aid agencies of an imminent famine in parts of the war-torn Palestinian territory. .
Blinken traveled on Wednesday to Kerem Shalom, an Israeli entry point into Gaza about 3 km (2 miles) from the southern city of Rafah, known to Palestinians as Karem Abu Salem. The top US diplomat also visited Israel’s main port, Ashdod, highlighting the “progress” achieved in recent weeks in humanitarian access, but stressed once again that more needs to be done.
“Progress is real, but given the need, given the immense need in Gaza, it needs to be accelerated, it needs to be sustained,” he said. Blinken called on the Israeli government to take a set of specific measures to facilitate aid to Gaza, where nearly half the population suffers from catastrophic famine, he said.
Israel has sought to demonstrate that it is not blocking aid to Gaza, especially since US President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Washington’s policy could change if Israel does not take measures to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of humanitarian workers.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Israeli settlers attacked two of its humanitarian aid convoys as they headed toward Gaza.
“Two Jordanian aid convoys carrying food, flour and other humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip were attacked by settlers,” the ministry said, without giving details of what happened.
Jordanian public media outlet Al-Mamlaka TV reported that a Jordanian aid convoy consisting of 31 trucks entered Gaza through the Beit Hanoon crossing, known as the Erez crossing to the Israelis. This is its first opening since the start of the war.
Rafa
During his previous meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken also reiterated that Washington would not support a military operation in Rafah without a plan to ensure the protection of civilians.
“We cannot and will not support a major military operation in Rafah without an effective plan to ensure that civilians are not harmed, and no, we have not seen such a plan,” Blinken told reporters.
The United Nations and humanitarian groups have long warned that a military operation there, where more than 1.5 million people are packed together, would cause a catastrophe.
“There are other ways, and in our opinion better ways, of dealing with the… ongoing challenge from Hamas that do not require a major military operation in Rafah,” he said, adding that the matter was the subject of ongoing talks with Israeli officials.
But an Israeli government spokesman said Israel remained determined to destroy Hamas’ remaining combat formations.
“When it comes to Rafah – we are committed to removing the last four of the five Hamas battalions in Rafah – we are sharing our plans with Secretary of State Blinken,” the spokesperson said at a regular briefing.
While facing international calls to delay any Rafah offensive, Netanyahu has faced pressure from the religious nationalist partners he depends on for his coalition government’s survival to move forward.
Negotiations
Israel is the last stop on the top US diplomat’s trip to the Middle East, amid renewed efforts to secure a ceasefire and exchange of hostages for prisoners.
Blinken urged Hamas to accept a truce agreement proposed by Egyptian mediators, which would allow the release of 33 hostages in exchange for a greater number of Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting, with the possibility of further steps toward a comprehensive agreement later.
“Israel has made very important commitments,” he said. “There is no time for further negotiations. The agreement is there. They [Hamas] should accept.”
A senior Hamas official said the group was studying the proposed deal and accused Blinken of failing to respect both sides and described Israel as the real obstacle.
“Blinken’s comments contradict reality,” Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
Israel is delaying sending a delegation to Cairo for truce talks pending a response from Gaza’s Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, an Israeli official told Reuters. “Only after he responds will we decide what to do.”
Israeli media reported on Wednesday that Netanyahu still refused to accept Hamas’ central demand that any agreement would have to include a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The Israeli news website Ynet, citing the Prime Minister’s Office, said Netanyahu told Blinken that an operation in Rafah “did not depend on anything” and that he rejected any proposals for a truce that would end the war in Gaza.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
