Israel to Allow Limited Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip Amidst Deadly Hospital Blast
Israel announced on Wednesday that it will permit Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, marking the first step toward easing the 10-day siege on the territory. This decision comes in the wake of a deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital, which left hundreds dead and placed significant strain on Gaza doctors who were already running low on medical supplies. Rage over the blast has spread across the Middle East, coinciding with US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel in an effort to prevent further conflict in the region.
The responsibility for the explosion remains a subject of debate, with Hamas officials blaming an Israeli airstrike, while Israel denies involvement and claims the blast was due to a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad. However, these claims have not been independently verified by the Associated Press.
Due to the hospital blast, Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza. The al-Ahli Hospital, which was left severely crippled by the explosion, transferred hundreds of wounded patients to another hospital that was already facing shortages in supplies and fuel. The US has now brokered an agreement between Egypt and Israel, allowing for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The aid, which will include water, food, and other supplies, will be closely monitored and supervised by the UN.
The decision to allow aid shipments came after Biden’s request, and Israel emphasizes that it will not obstruct the delivery of aid to civilians in southern Gaza, as long as it does not reach Hamas militants. However, Israel’s statement did not address the issue of fuel, which is desperately needed in Gaza.
In the midst of these developments, rocket attacks from Palestine into Israel have resumed, and Israeli strikes on Gaza continue. Biden, during his visit to Israel, tried to strike a diplomatic balance by expressing support for Israel while also voicing concern for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that the situation is pushing the region to the brink. In response to the hospital blast, Jordan canceled a scheduled meeting between Biden, King Abdullah II, and the presidents of Palestine and Egypt.
The hospital blast has drawn both local and international attention, with conflicting accounts of what occurred. The Israeli military denies responsibility and claims that the blast was caused by a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad. However, both Hamas and Islamic Jihad maintain that the explosion was an Israeli airstrike aimed at the hospital. While the hospital did receive multiple evacuation orders from Israeli forces in the days leading up to the blast, the Anglican bishop of Jerusalem refrained from assigning blame, expressing hope for an end to the ongoing conflict.
The death toll from the blast remains disputed, with the Health Ministry initially reporting over 500 deaths but later revising the number to 471. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the overall death toll since the start of the war has reached 3,478, with over 12,000 wounded. On the Israeli side, more than 1,400 people have been killed, mostly civilians who were victims of Hamas’ incursion. Over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced, with many facing food shortages and contaminated water.
Though a ground invasion by Israel into Gaza is anticipated, no formal decision has been made by military officials.
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