U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his approval of the Israeli government’s announcement to expand aid into Gaza, but emphasized that more needs to be done to meet the Biden administration’s demands for significant improvements in humanitarian conditions in the territory. Blinken highlighted the importance of opening more border crossings to surge assistance to Palestinians affected by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He also called for an independent investigation into the recent killings of aid workers in Gaza, stressing the need for accountability and protection of civilians and aid workers.
Following the recent airstrikes on a convoy of aid workers that resulted in the deaths of seven employees of the charity World Central Kitchen, including six international volunteers, the Israeli military took action by dismissing two officers and reprimanding three others for their role in the strikes. The military acknowledged that the attack on the convoy was a “grave mistake” and conducted a swift investigation, leading to the rare punishment of senior officers. The findings of the investigation raised concerns about the Israeli military’s decision-making and reignited accusations of reckless firing at civilians during the conflict.
Blinken welcomed the steps announced by Israel to improve conditions in Gaza, including reopening a key border crossing into northern Gaza and allowing aid shipments to be processed through the Ashdod port. He emphasized the need for a better system for coordination and de-confliction to ensure the safe delivery of aid inside Gaza. The U.S. government urged Israel to take further action to protect civilians and aid workers, stating that future support for the conflict in Gaza would depend on these measures. International outrage over the incident involving the convoy of aid workers put Israel on the defensive about its conduct in the ongoing war against Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office responded to President Joe Biden’s call for an immediate ceasefire and more action to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza. Israel announced plans to improve conditions and facilitate the delivery of aid, including reopening the Erez crossing and allowing increased Jordanian aid shipments through other land crossings. Netanyahu was urged to reach an immediate ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for the estimated 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. The war between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza, with thousands of Palestinians killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The conflict has pushed the population of Gaza to the brink of starvation, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and protections for civilians.
