Joe Biden has warned Israel not to use humanitarian aid arriving in Gaza as a “bargaining chip” in the conflict with Hamas.
“To Israel’s leaders I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” said Biden, whose country provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.
Biden made these calls yesterday in his State of the Union address.
It comes as US plans accelerated on Friday to bring aid by sea to Gaza, where the UN has repeatedly warned of famine and Israel has been accused of limiting aid as it fights Hamas militants.
In his annual State of the Union address to Congress, President Joe Biden said the US military would ‘lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary dock in the Mediterranean off the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments with food, water, medicine and temporary shelter. .’
Senior administration officials said this effort builds on an initiative proposed by Cyprus for a maritime aid corridor. On Friday, in the Cypriot port of Larnaca, European Union chief Ursula Von der Leyen expressed hope that the corridor could open this Sunday.
The United States and other countries have already been parachuting food and other assistance into Gaza, but air or sea delivery is not the best way, said Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations aid coordinator for the Palestinian territory.
Biden yesterday warned Israel not to use humanitarian aid arriving in Gaza as a “bargaining chip” in the conflict with Hamas in his State of the Union address.
Intentional starvation is a war crime and Biden said Israel must send aid no matter what.
Israel has destroyed many aid trucks delivering food during the conflict.
Biden said: “To Israel’s leaders, I say this: humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip.”
“Diversification of overland supply routes” remains the optimal solution, Kaag said.
Biden, whose administration has increasingly talked about the consequences of war for civilians, delivered some of his strongest comments yet as hopes dimmed for a new truce ahead of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that could begin. on Sunday depending on the lunar calendar.
“To Israel’s leaders I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” said Biden, whose country provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.
He stressed that Israel also has “a fundamental responsibility” to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.
He said: ‘Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more aid to Gaza.
“Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority.”
Biden also spoke about how Hamas must do its part to end the conflict.
He said the terrorist group could stop the war immediately if they laid down their weapons and handed over those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack.
He also called on Hamas to accept a deal over the hostages it is holding that would lead to a six-week ceasefire.
Family members of the hostages were in the audience at Biden’s speech, and he told them, “I promise all families that we will not rest until we bring your loved ones home.”
‘We have been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last at least six weeks. It would bring the hostages home, alleviate the intolerable humanitarian crisis, and move toward something more lasting.
The Israeli government must take the humanitarian crisis in Gaza seriously, Biden said in his speech.
The law does not allow intentional starvation or chemical and biological warfare.
The UN said Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians and should be held accountable.
Hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in the Gaza Strip, where around 2.2 million Palestinians face severe shortages.
He has said Netanyahu must send help, and more, regardless of everything else.
Hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in the Gaza Strip, where around 2.2 million Palestinians face severe shortages as a result of the destruction of food supplies, predominantly by Israel.
Michael Fakhri, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told The Guardian: “There is no reason to intentionally block the passage of humanitarian aid or intentionally destroy small-scale fishing boats, greenhouses and orchards in Gaza, apart from denying people access to food.’