Israel Continues Airstrikes on Gaza Despite Calls for Humanitarian Aid
Israel launched another round of airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday, as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined U.S. President Joe Biden in demonstrating support for the war against Hamas. While both leaders expressed condolences and solidarity with Israel, they also urged the country to ease the suffering of the besieged Gazans.
Limited Aid Offered as Gaza Continues to Suffer
During his brief visit, Biden secured an offer from Egypt to allow 20 aid trucks into Gaza in the coming days. However, this falls far short of the 100 trucks per day that the UN has deemed necessary. Israel has also stated that it will only open its own checkpoints for aid once all the hostages taken by Hamas are released.
Biden delivered a message to Israelis, urging them not to be consumed by rage and to consider the mistakes made by the United States in the aftermath of 9/11. He also emphasized that Israel has an opportunity to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
Similarly, Sunak arrived in Tel Aviv to express solidarity with the Israeli people and condemn the acts of terrorism they have endured. However, within Gaza, the devastating Israeli bombardment continues, with thousands of casualties and half of the population made homeless.
Unrest in the Middle East
The plight of civilians in Gaza has sparked anger throughout the Middle East, making it challenging for Western leaders to rally Arab allies against the war. An explosion at a Gaza hospital further complicated Biden’s plans to meet Arab leaders, as Palestinians blamed Israel for the incident. Angry demonstrations erupted across the region, and although Biden backed Israel’s account of the explosion, the situation remains tense.
Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has maintained that its crossing is open but aid cannot get through due to Israeli bombardment. Egypt has also rejected the idea of a mass exodus of Gazans seeking refuge in their country.
Challenges in Providing Aid
Israel has agreed, in principle, to allow aid into Gaza via Egypt but expressed concerns about Hamas diverting aid meant for civilians. The United States has been pushing for the crossing to be opened to allow a small number of Gazans with foreign passports to leave, but so far, these efforts have been unsuccessful.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the need for humanitarian aid growing urgent. The international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution and an end to the violence.
