Promised aid to Gaza stalled by row as conditions worsen
Israel, Egypt, the United Nations and others are still ironing out the details of delivering food, water and medicines, as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion. Two days after President Biden said he had obtained Israel's agreement to allow the Food, water and medicine entered the besieged Gaza Strip, and a day after aid groups were told their trucks would cross at the border on Friday, nothing moved, as the powers involved continued to haggle over details, while conditions inside Gaza became more dire.
Speaking Friday at the Egypt-Gaza border, UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed reports that Israel and Egypt had agreed the day before to make aid deliveries possible “with certain conditions and restrictions,” which were still under development. For over a week there have been reports of a possible breakthrough, but the trucks have not moved.
More recently, Israel has opposed several aspects of the plans put in place. by humanitarian groups and the United Nations, according to several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with the talks also involving Egypt and the United States.
Adding to the sentiment Desperate in Gaza, Israel is preparing for an expected ground invasion to crush Hamas, the group that controls the territory, which would make humanitarian needs greater – and make them harder to meet. Amid a war between Israel and Hamas that has left thousands dead, more than 2 million people are trapped in the territory, many displaced from their homes, with vital resources rapidly dwindling. p>
“Behind these walls, we have 2 million people who are suffering enormously, who have no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel, who are under fire, who need everything to survive. On this side, we saw so many trucks loaded with water, fuel, medicine, food,” Mr. Guterres said, gesturing behind him.
The trucks, he added, make "the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza."
At the White House, Mr. Biden told reporters Friday afternoon that he expected aid to begin to be delivered within two days. He did not mention Israeli objections, but cited the need to repair bomb-damaged roads that the trucks would use.
“The highway needed to be repaved, and it was in very poor condition,” Mr. Biden said. “And I believe that in the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks will cross the border. »
The main concern expressed by the Israeli government is that aid does not increase or fall into the hands of Hamas, including the October 7 assault on Israel killed some 1,400 people and captured about 200 hostages.
Hamas on Friday freed two Americans it had held captive, according to officials on both sides of the conflict, after discussions with Qatar, which served as an intermediary between Hamas and Washington. They were identified as Ju...
Israel, Egypt, the United Nations and others are still ironing out the details of delivering food, water and medicines, as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion. Two days after President Biden said he had obtained Israel's agreement to allow the Food, water and medicine entered the besieged Gaza Strip, and a day after aid groups were told their trucks would cross at the border on Friday, nothing moved, as the powers involved continued to haggle over details, while conditions inside Gaza became more dire.
Speaking Friday at the Egypt-Gaza border, UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed reports that Israel and Egypt had agreed the day before to make aid deliveries possible “with certain conditions and restrictions,” which were still under development. For over a week there have been reports of a possible breakthrough, but the trucks have not moved.
More recently, Israel has opposed several aspects of the plans put in place. by humanitarian groups and the United Nations, according to several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with the talks also involving Egypt and the United States.
Adding to the sentiment Desperate in Gaza, Israel is preparing for an expected ground invasion to crush Hamas, the group that controls the territory, which would make humanitarian needs greater – and make them harder to meet. Amid a war between Israel and Hamas that has left thousands dead, more than 2 million people are trapped in the territory, many displaced from their homes, with vital resources rapidly dwindling. p>
“Behind these walls, we have 2 million people who are suffering enormously, who have no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel, who are under fire, who need everything to survive. On this side, we saw so many trucks loaded with water, fuel, medicine, food,” Mr. Guterres said, gesturing behind him.
The trucks, he added, make "the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza."
At the White House, Mr. Biden told reporters Friday afternoon that he expected aid to begin to be delivered within two days. He did not mention Israeli objections, but cited the need to repair bomb-damaged roads that the trucks would use.
“The highway needed to be repaved, and it was in very poor condition,” Mr. Biden said. “And I believe that in the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks will cross the border. »
The main concern expressed by the Israeli government is that aid does not increase or fall into the hands of Hamas, including the October 7 assault on Israel killed some 1,400 people and captured about 200 hostages.
Hamas on Friday freed two Americans it had held captive, according to officials on both sides of the conflict, after discussions with Qatar, which served as an intermediary between Hamas and Washington. They were identified as Ju...
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