US Urges Israel to Pause Gaza War for Humanitarian Aid as Conflict Intensifies
The United States is calling on Israel to temporarily halt its war against Hamas militants in Gaza to allow for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid and the safe evacuation of civilians. As the conflict enters its fourth week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Israel for the second time in a month to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
Israel’s military has announced that it has encircled Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian enclave and a key target in Israel’s campaign against Hamas. In response, Hamas militants have launched hit-and-run attacks from underground tunnels.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, We’re at the height of the battle. We’ve had impressive successes and have advanced to the outskirts of Gaza City. We are continuing to make progress.
Amid mounting casualties among Palestinian civilians and worsening shortages of essential supplies, there is increasing global pressure to establish a humanitarian ceasefire. However, Israel has dismissed these calls, arguing that it targets only Hamas fighters who deliberately use civilian buildings and the local population as cover.
The conflict began when Hamas militants breached Israel’s border on 7 October. Israel claims to have killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taken over 240 hostages on what has become the deadliest day in its 75-year history. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s subsequent bombardment of the densely populated enclave, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has resulted in the deaths of at least 9,061 people.
While the US reiterated its opposition to a full ceasefire, the White House is exploring the possibility of implementing temporary and localized pauses in the fighting. The aim is to facilitate the distribution of aid and ensure the safe evacuation of civilians, including those held as hostages. To assist in locating hostages, the US is said to be flying intelligence-gathering drones over Gaza.
During his visit, Secretary Blinken will also hold discussions regarding the future of Gaza and the groundwork for future Palestinian statehood. However, tensions remain high as Israeli forces claim to have completely encircled Gaza City, encountering mines and booby traps in the process. Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters continue to emerge from tunnels, firing at Israeli tanks before retreating underground.
In response to the worsening situation, the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt is due to open for a third day to facilitate limited evacuations. This arrangement, brokered by Qatar, aims to allow foreign passport holders, their dependents, and critically wounded Palestinians to leave the enclave. Over the past two days, more than 700 foreign citizens have already crossed into Egypt through Rafah.
Amidst these developments, there is a growing consensus among certain international bodies that Palestinians in Gaza are at grave risk of genocide. Seven independent experts monitoring human rights issued a statement in Geneva, calling for a ceasefire and condemning Israel’s alleged war crimes against civilians. However, the Israeli mission to the UN dismissed these comments, placing the blame on Hamas for civilian casualties.
Despite the ongoing conflict, efforts to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation remain a top priority. Critical shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel have left many Palestinians in desperate need. Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, with over a third of them unable to function properly, and makeshift refugee camps have been set up in corridors and hallways.
As the situation in Gaza worsens, the international community continues to pressure Israel to pause its military operations in order to allow for crucial aid to reach those in need and to provide a safe passage for civilians. The outcome of Secretary Blinken’s visit to Israel, along with the response from both sides of the conflict, will play a significant role in shaping the next steps and determining the course of the ongoing crisis.
