Baerbock: “No more excuses”
After pressure, Israel promises more aid to Gaza
April 5, 2024, 9:52 p.m
International partners are urging Israel to send more aid to Gaza. After a telephone conversation with US President Biden, the war cabinet now decides to open further border crossings. While Germany and the USA approved the move, the EU and UN expressed criticism.
Israel has announced the “temporary” opening of additional border crossings for aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip amid increasing pressure from its key allies. The war cabinet has authorized the government to “take immediate measures to increase humanitarian aid,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. While the USA and Germany welcomed the announcement, the UN and EU criticized the measures as inadequate.
According to Netanyahu’s office, the increased aid deliveries will be delivered through the Erez border crossing and the port of Ashdod, 40 kilometers north, in order to “avoid a humanitarian crisis” and “ensure the continuation of the fighting.” The authorities also wanted to make it possible to increase direct aid deliveries from Jordan via the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the south, it said.
The announcement followed a telephone conversation between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden on Thursday. Biden called for “concrete” and “immediate” steps to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas and made it clear that the US’s further course towards Israel depends on such measures. Biden has now assured that Israel is implementing its demands from the phone call. “I asked them to do what they’re doing,” Biden said.
Blinken sees positive developments
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the announced steps as “positive developments”. At the same time, he pushed for rapid implementation: “Now it depends on results,” said Blinken during a visit to the Belgian city of Leuven. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made similar comments. “We expect the Israeli government to implement its announcements quickly. No more excuses,” she said on X. The EU Commission also urged Israel to “quickly and fully” implement the announcement.
EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said “isolated measures” were not enough. “We need a paradigm shift,” emphasized Guterres. After almost six months of war between Israel and the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is devastating; according to the UN, there is a risk of famine.