Israel to open new aid routes to Gaza following Biden’s threat
Israel says it has approved the opening of two routes into Gaza to allow more humanitarian aid into the territory
The Erez Gate in northern Gaza will be temporarily re-opened for the first time since the start of the war, and Ashdod Port will also be opened for humanitarian deliveries
More aid from Jordan will also be allowed to enter via the Kerem Shalom Crossing
It comes hours after US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since an Israeli strike killed seven aid workers in Gaza on Monday
Israel said earlier this week the incident was a “grave mistake” and promised an independent investigation
Biden told Netanyahu that US support for Israel will depend on steps being taken to “address civilian harm” and “humanitarian suffering” in Gaza
In a readout of the telephone call between the two leaders, which lasted less than 30 minutes, the White House said that the President “emphasised that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable”.
“He made it clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” the summary said.
Biden’s conversation with Netanyahu came as the President faced rising domestic anger at Israel’s conduct in Gaza, and growing demands from within his party to place conditions on arms transfers.
With the UN warning of imminent famine in northern Gaza, humanitarian organisations had repeatedly requested full access to Israel’s Ashdod port, some 20 miles (30km) away, to no avail.
Now, in a major change of policy, Israel’s security cabinet has decided to temporarily open it up for aid deliveries.
The nearest entry point to Gaza, the large Erez crossing, will also be opened for the first time since the deadly Hamas attacks on 7 October, and the amount of aid from Jordan moving through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza will increase.
The steps were quickly announced following a half hour call between President Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just days after an Israeli strike killed a team from the US charity, World Central Kitchen.
Biden has now threatened to rethink his backing for Israel’s war efforts in Gaza if it doesn’t change its tactics.
The US gives vital military supplies and acts as a diplomatic shield for Israel on the world stage but recently, divisions have grown between the two allies.
