The Biden administration announced late Thursday that Israel had agreed to open another crossing to allow aid into Gaza, addressing a dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Israeli government has not yet confirmed the announcement, which followed a tense phone call between President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the call, President Biden expressed concerns about civilian casualties and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, threatening to tie future support for Israel to how these issues are addressed.
The National Security Council stated that Israel had agreed to open the Erez crossing for aid into northern Gaza and to open the port of Ashdod, in response to the president’s request.
The statement emphasized the urgent need for these measures to be implemented promptly.
Pressure has been mounting on Israel to open more border crossings for aid, particularly following a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice warning of famine in Gaza.
Humanitarian officials have raised concerns about a looming famine, particularly in northern Gaza, where access to aid has been challenging due to Israeli restrictions and security issues.
Israel has faced accusations of delaying aid delivery, but has denied responsibility for these delays.
The majority of aid entering Gaza has been through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings in the south, making it difficult and dangerous to transport aid to the northern regions.
The route from the southern border crossings to the north is often obstructed by damage from Israeli attacks, checkpoints, and clashes between Hamas and Israeli forces.
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