Israel has announced that it will “temporarily” allow additional aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The port of Ashdod and the Erez border crossing are to be opened for this purpose. But criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu is becoming sharper.
Israel will take “immediate measures to increase humanitarian assistance” to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. This is necessary to “avoid a humanitarian crisis” and “ensure the continuation of the fighting.”
Accordingly, the port of Ashdod and the Erez border crossing would be temporarily opened, making it easier for help to reach the north of the Gaza Strip, which is particularly affected by food shortages. The aid supplies coming from Jordan via the Kerem Shalom border crossing would also be increased.
USA: Opening must be “quick and complete”.
The announcement came shortly after a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Netanyahu. According to the White House, in the conversation, Biden asked the Israeli head of government to take a series of “specific, concrete and measurable steps” to reduce the suffering for the people in the Gaza Strip and increase the protection of aid workers. Future US policy on Gaza depends on how Israel implements these measures, Biden warned.
Following Israel’s current announcement, the USA called for the routes to be opened quickly. The announced steps must now be “implemented quickly and fully,” said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council.
Outrage after attack Aid organization
According to the White House, in the phone call with Netanyahu, Biden also emphasized his call for an immediate ceasefire, which is essential to improving the humanitarian situation. Israel must reach an agreement “without delay” to ensure the return of the hostages kidnapped by the militant Palestinian organization Hamas.
US circles said the phone call lasted less than 30 minutes. It was the first conversation between the two politicians since the death of seven employees of the aid organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) in an Israeli air strike, about which the US President was “outraged”. In a conversation with the Israeli head of government, Biden called the attacks on humanitarian workers and the general humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory “unacceptable,” the White House said.
Biden has so far consistently supported Israel in the war against the radical Islamic Hamas, including with arms deliveries. However, the US President has recently been increasingly critical of Israel’s conduct of the war in view of the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip. According to the US government headquarters, Biden and Netanyahu also discussed the threat to Israel from Iran.
Blinken welcomes commitment to Gaza aid
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the easing of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip as a positive development: “We welcome these steps that Israel has announced. But the real test is the results and they are what we will see in the coming days and weeks want to see.”
Blinken said a better system for collaboration and dispute resolution is needed so that aid can be safely delivered and distributed in the Gaza Strip. He also called for an independent and thorough investigation into the Israeli airstrike on workers at the aid organization World Central Kitchen. The results of the investigation must be fully disclosed.
Baerbock: “No more excuses”
Federal Foreign Minister Analena Baerbock also welcomed Israel’s announcement of the opening of the Erez border crossing for aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The people in the Palestinian territory now need “every aid package,” explained the Green politician on the online service X.
The federal government has therefore worked “intensively” towards opening the Erez border crossing and the port of Ashdod for aid deliveries. “We expect the Israeli government to implement its announcements quickly. No more excuses,” wrote Baerbock.
Trump: “Israel is losing the PR war”
Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump called on Israel to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible. “Get it over with and let’s get back to peace and stop killing people,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt.
In his view, public opinion is increasingly directed against Israel, also because the Israeli military is publishing videos of air strikes. “They shouldn’t make such recordings public. That’s why they’re losing the PR war.” People would see these pictures of houses collapsing and imagine the people in them. “And they don’t like that,” Trump said.
The presumptive Republican presidential candidate had in the past accused incumbent Biden of not sufficiently supporting Israel. “They have to finish what they started and they have to finish it quickly,” Trump said.
Ralf Borchard, ARD Washington, tagesschau, April 4th, 2024 10:09 p.m