Israel boosts Gaza aid, opens borders after Biden pressure and convoy attack

The office of the Prime Minister of Israel announced that following an attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy and a "tense conversation" Netanyahu had with the President of the USA, the security cabinet decided to take "immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip." Two checkpoints have been opened.

The White House urged Israel on Thursday evening Eastern Time to quickly carry out the enhancement of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, as stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

These measures, including promises to open the Asdod port (...), the opening of the Erez border crossing (...) along with greatly increased aid deliveries from Jordan directly to the Gaza Strip, must now be implemented promptly and fully - Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, declared.

Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister's office reported that the Israeli security cabinet, prompted by an attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy and a "tense conversation" Netanyahu had with US President Joe Biden, resolved to take immediate action to enhance the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

According to the announcement, Israel will temporarily open the Asdod port for humanitarian aid deliveries, located approximately 25 miles north of the Gaza Strip, and for the first time since October 7 of the previous year, open the Erez border crossing, between the northern Gaza Strip and southern Israel.

Tel Aviv will also bolster the aid volume from Jordan, which will be transported through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

"The war cabinet authorized the Prime Minister, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Minister Benny Gantz to take immediate action to augment humanitarian aid for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu's office stated. This increased aid will help mitigate the humanitarian crisis and is essential for the continuation of military operations and achieving war objectives," the office further noted.

On Tuesday, seven volunteers from the humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen were killed in the Gaza Strip. The organization reported that the Israeli army shot them. The incident occurred while the team delivered food aid, which had arrived in the Gaza Strip a few hours earlier by ship from Cyprus.

Source: Times of Israel / PAP