The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Israel clears Erez crossing reopening, use of Ashdod port for aid into Gaza
Opening crossing is bare minimum... throwing ash in eyes, says Hamas
ISRAEL SAID it approved the reopening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and the temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel, following U. S. demands to increase humanitarian aid supplies into Gaza.
During a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night, U. S. President Joe Biden demanded “specific, concrete” steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying conditions could be placed on US aid if Israel did not respond.
Biden “made 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 White House said of the leaders' phone call.
The growing pressure on Israel came after the killing of seven aid workers in an Israeli strike on Monday night, which triggered global outrage at the continuing problems with aid deliveries into the besieged enclave.
A meeting of the security cabinet late on Thursday approved immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, a statement said.
In addition to reopening the Erez crossing point, which has been closed since it was destroyed during the October 7 attack, the security cabinet also approved increasing Jordanian aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing point.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said opening the crossing was the minimum that Israel should do.
“That said, we are concerned that the Israeli announcement could be nothing but throwing ash in the eyes and that once implementation begins, Israel will begin to stall and invent pretexts to delay or suspend the process,” he said.