Biden Commemorated, Israel Agrees To Open Additional Aid Routes

Badminton UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

JAKARTA - Israel agreed to open additional routes for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to the White House, just hours after President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make major changes.

Israel has not officially confirmed it has agreed to take the action, but the White House said it would use the port in Israel's Ashdod city for direct aid deliveries to Gaza.

In addition, the Erez crossing will also open along Gaza's northern border and "significantly increase shipments from Jordan directly to Gaza."

Reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, April 5, the action "must be carried out properly and quickly," said National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson.

"As the President said today by telephone, US policies in connection with Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's swift action on this and other measures, including measures to protect innocent civilians and the safety of aid workers," Watson said in a statement.

"We are ready to work closely with the governments of Israel, Jordan and Egypt, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations, to ensure this important step is implemented and result in a significant increase in humanitarian aid that reaches civilians in dire need across Gaza over the coming days and weeks", he added.

Prior to the White House announcement, only the Karem SALom and Rafah borders were opened for aid delivery. Both are in southern Gaza, and the flow of international aid is still not sufficient to contain the humanitarian disaster in the coastal region due to Israeli restrictions.

On Thursday, April 4 morning Biden addressed Netanyahu, warning that future US support for Israel's war in Gaza depends on the implementation of massive changes by Tel Aviv following an "unacceptable" assassination of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.

The statement comes after Israel launched Monday's attack on a humanitarian convoy in central Gaza that killed seven aid workers working for the World Central Kitchen (WCK) who its founder Chef Jose Andres said was "a direct attack on a clearly marked vehicle whose movement was known" by the Israeli army.

The White House said Biden "clearly stated the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian losses, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers."

"He firmly said that the US policy regarding Gaza would be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action in these measures," he said.

The White House then declined to elaborate on what steps the president was considering. But it said the US expected Israel to take steps within the coming hours and days, including allowing a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and opening additional border crossings for aid deliveries.

It remains to be seen whether the agreement will actually result in an increase in the volume of aid entering Gaza.