Israel's cabinet approves increased Gaza aid, after Biden threats

• Published date: 05 April 2024
• Author: TOVAH LAZAROFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"The Cabinet authorized the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Minister [Benny] Gantz to take immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," the Prime Minister's Office said after ministers held a meeting Thursday night

"This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war," the Prime Minister's Office said.

To help facilitate the delivery of the aid, Israel will temporarily allow goods for Gaza to land at the port in Ashdod, a step which had been halted after the Hamas-led attack on October 7.

Israel also plans to temporarily open the Erez crossing by northern Gaza and close to Ashdod for the entry of humanitarian assistance.

More Jordanian aid will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the PMO stated.

The move followed a half-an-hour phone call between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the American leader expressed his outrage over the IDF killing of seven aid workers from the Work Central Kitchen.

Israel has apologized for the killing, explaining that it was accidental, and is investigating the incident.

In a post on X Biden stated, "Today, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to emphasize that strikes on aid workers and the humanitarian situation in Gaza are unacceptable.

"Israel must implement steps to address civilian harm and the safety of workers – and work toward a ceasefire to bring hostages home," he stated.

US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters it expected Israel to make changes to its Gaza policy within days if not hours.

At the cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Israel Katz supported the increase in humanitarian aid in light of the urgent diplomatic need for Israel to take action on the matter.

He opposed, however, the use of the Ashdod port for goods to Gaza, since this contradicts his belief that in the aftermath of the war, the connection between Israel and the enclave must be severed.

Until the war, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza had been the main corridor through which goods entered the enclave.

Katz is among those Israeli politicians who believe that the Hamas-led attack on October 7 in which over 1,200 people were killed, makes it impossible to return to that arrangement.

He fears that returning to the system by...