Hours After Biden-Netanyahu Call, Israel Approves Reopening Northern Gaza Border Crossing
For the first time since the October 7 attacks, the Israeli government has approved reopening 3-key corridors to ensure better transfer of aid to Gaza. This comes hours after the Biden-Netanyahu chat.
Months after the October 7 attacks, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said that the security cabinet has approved to temporarily reopen, the Erez crossing, a major crossing between the country and northern Gaza that was destroyed during the attacks. Additionally, Israel has agreed to ensure more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Office of Netanyahu has also approved the usage of the Israeli's Ashdod Port in order to transfer more aid to Gaza.
A government statement read: "Israel will allow the temporary delivery of humanitarian aid through Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint to prevent a humanitarian crisis and... ensure the continuation of the fighting".
It is to be noted that the development comes hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden held a phone call conversation on Thursday. US media reports say that during the conversation, which lasted for around 30 minutes, Biden fumed over the Israeli attack that killed seven World Central Kitchens aid workers in Gaza. Click here to read more.
In a statement that was issued after midnight, the Israeli govt said, "This increased assistance will prevent a humanitarian crisis. It is essential to ensure the continuation of the fighting and achieve the objectives of the war. Israel will allow the temporary provision of humanitarian aid through Ashdod and Erez Crossing and increase Jordanian aid through Kerem Shalom."
As per a CBS News report, the opening of three aid corridors was requested by US President Biden in the conversation. The request was later approved by the Israeli government.
US Warns Israel Of 'Concrete Steps' To Protect Civilians In Gaza
In a stark statement, Biden warned Netanyahu that the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza is "unacceptable", and Israel to take immediate steps to address the issue or "face consequences". Notably, this marked the first conversation between the two leaders since seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Soon after the call ended, the White House issued a statement, in which it said, "President Biden emphasised that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable".
It said further, "He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps".
Biden declared that Israel needed to "announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers".
As per a report by The Guardian, the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, speaking after the call in Brussels, cleared the stance of the United States.
Blinken clarified, "If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there’ll be changes in our own policy".
New Israeli Measures Welcomed By United States
Following the announcement of the reopening of the three key crossings by Israel to ensure better reach of aid to Gaza, the United States welcomed the development, as per a statement issued by White House National Security Council Adrienne Watson,
"These steps to open the Erez Crossing for a new route for assistance to reach north Gaza, and to significantly increase deliveries from Jordan directly into Gaza, must now be fully and rapidly implemented," it said, as reported by The Guardian.
"As the president said today on the call, US policy concerning Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these and other steps, including steps to protect innocent civilians and the safety of aid workers," the statement read further.
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