Joe Biden warns Israel of losing global support
Istanbul, Turkey - US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Tuesday that Israel will lose international support if it continues its aggression in Gaza.
“Israel has had the overwhelming support of the vast majority of nations. If it keeps this up with this incredibly conservative government they have, and (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-gvir and others, they’re going to lose support from around the world, and that is not in Israel’s interest,” Biden said in a live interview on NBC.
Biden also asserted that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan will provide a chance for a temporary cease-fire.
“There’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” he said.
“That gives us time to begin to move in directions that a lot of Arab countries are prepared to move in,” Biden further underlined, adding that ‘Saudi Arabia is ready to recognise Israel’ if hostilities cease.
“The bottom line is that the only way Israel will survive in the end - and I’ve been criticised for saying that you don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist. I’m a Zionist - but here’s the thing: they also need to take advantage of the invitations for peace and security to the Israelis as well as to the Palestinians, which Hamas is taking advantage of,” Biden said.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel-fattah al-sisi said on Wednesday that he is hopeful for a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip in the coming few days.
“We hope that a cease-fire will be reached in the coming days to start a real relief for our people in the Gaza Strip in all fields,” Sisi said at an event in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Egypt, Qatar and the US are mediating between Israel and Hamas to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-prisoner swap.
UNRWA unable to deliver aid
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Wednesday it is still unable to safely deliver humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip amid Israeli fire.
“We have been unable to reach northern Gaza and increasingly parts of southern Gaza, safely,” UNRWA said in a statement.
“Aid convoys reportedly continue to come under fire and are denied access by the Israeli Authorities.” The refugee agency said that humanitarian aid flows into Gaza have dropped by 50 per cent in February.
“The number of trucks entering Gaza remains well below the target of 500 per day, with significant difficulties bringing supplies in through both Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah,” it added.
“UNRWA trucks have struggled to enter the Gaza Strip due to security constraints and temporary closures at both crossings.”
UNRWA CommissionerGeneral Philippe Lazzarini on Sunday warned of an imminent famine in Gaza as aid agencies struggle to deliver food to the north of the enclave.
“The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was on January 23,” Lazzarini wrote on social media.
Recent findings by Un-affiliated partner organisations suggest that acute malnutrition has spiked in Gaza to reach 16.2 per cent, exceeding the critical threshold set by the World Health Organization at 15 per cent.
Death toll rises to 29,954
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has jumped to 29,954, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement came as the Israeli deadly onslaught against Gaza entered its 145th day.