Israel USA sees improvement in humanitarian aid for Gaza
In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is making efforts to improve the situation, according to the US government. "Israel has taken important steps in recent weeks," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. The Erez border crossing has been opened for aid deliveries and a new border crossing in Kissufim is also due to open in the coming days. "In addition, further routes have been approved for the distribution of aid within Gaza," said Miller. However, more needs to be done to noticeably improve the situation of the people.
After more than a year of war by the Israeli army against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the plight of the civilian population in the largely destroyed coastal area is devastating. In mid-October, the US government called on Israel to significantly improve the humanitarian situation within 30 days. Failure to do so could result in a violation of US military assistance laws - which could also jeopardize American military aid to Israel. In a letter, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed "deep concern" about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for "urgent and sustained action" by the Israeli government.
US government wants to use time before Trump's inauguration
Following the election victory of Republican Donald Trump, however, it is unclear how much pressure outgoing US President Joe Biden will be able to exert on Israel. State Department spokesman Miller said that in the time remaining until Trump takes office in January, the US government will work to end the wars in the Gaza Strip and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas and improve humanitarian aid.
The Israeli government has been heavily criticized for the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. According to independently unverifiable figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority, 43,000 people have been killed and more than 101,000 injured so far. Most hospitals have been destroyed and there is a shortage of food, medicine and other basic necessities.
Riots at the swearing-in ceremony of Israel's Defense Minister Katz
A central role in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip fell to the previous Defense Minister Joav Galant. After his controversial dismissal, there were riots at the swearing-in ceremony of his successor Israel Katz in parliament. Members of the ruling coalition and the opposition insulted each other before the vote in the Knesset, as reported by the newspaper "The Times of Israel". In the end, the opposition MPs left the plenary chamber in protest against Galant's dismissal. The new Defense Minister Katz was nevertheless confirmed in office with the votes of the governing coalition.
Katz - a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - had previously headed the Foreign Ministry. The head of government justified the dismissal of his previous defense minister with a breakdown in trust. Following Galant's dismissal, thousands of people in Israel took to the streets against the government.
Hamas calls for worldwide protests
In response to Israel's ongoing attacks in the northern Gaza Strip, Hamas called for worldwide protests. In solidarity with the Palestinians, people should take to the streets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and also condemn the West's support for the Israeli attacks, the terrorist organization demands.
The Gaza war was triggered by the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
The Islamist organization accused Israel of genocide and massacres of civilians in the north of the embattled Gaza Strip, among other things, in its call for protest, which has now been disseminated via social media. The Israeli military has recently expanded its operations against Hamas there. It called on civilians to leave the combat zone. However, thousands are said to still be in the area.
SDA
