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Israel wants to enable more humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. This announcement comes just hours after a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
What is it about? Israel has decided to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The War Cabinet decided this early on Friday morning (local time).
Why is this decision coming now? US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Thursday. According to the White House, Biden has made demands. Israel must take a series of “specific, concrete and measurable steps” to reduce the suffering of the people of Gaza and increase the protection of aid workers. Future US policy regarding Gaza depends on how Israel implements these measures, Biden warned.
Which border crossings will be opened? The port of Ashdod and the Erez border crossing in northern Gaza are to be temporarily opened. Aid coming from Jordan via the Kerem Shalom border crossing will also be increased. This is reported by the Israeli newspapers Haaretz and Times of Israel, citing a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
What does the aid mean for the population in the Gaza Strip? “The aid means short-term relief for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, but probably not a lasting improvement in the humanitarian crisis,” says SRF foreign editor Peter Voegeli. Because the situation is very volatile. Humanitarian aid is slow and cumbersome. The aid convoys at the border crossing are checked. Israel wants to prevent military supplies for Hamas.
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Opening the border crossings will make it easier for help to reach northern Gaza, which is particularly affected by food shortages.
Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne (December 22, 2023)
What does Israel hope to achieve from this step? “Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to reduce the political pressure on Israel – internationally and from the USA, Israel’s most important ally,” explains Voegeli. US President Biden needs a certain amount of political space to continue supporting Israel. And after the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the military situation has worsened again. Israel depends on US support.
How does the USA react? The United States welcomed “the steps announced by the Israeli government this evening at the request of the President following his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson. At the same time, they are pushing for an agreement to release the hostages in Gaza. According to a media report, negotiations will take place in Cairo this weekend.