The Israeli government has approved the opening of three humanitarian aid corridors that were specifically requested by President Joe Biden in a Thursday call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden told Netanyahu that the Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers in Gaza was “unacceptable” and warned that U.S. policy toward the conflict going forward will depend on Israel’s actions to relieve the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Erez Crossing in northern Gaza, which has not been open since the start of the conflict, will be opened. The Port of Ashdod will be opened for humanitarian deliveries, and aid trucks from Jordan will be allowed to traverse Israel into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
“This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war,” Israel’s Cabinet said in a statement.
The two leaders spoke for the first time since Monday’s deadly strike that killed workers from the World Central Kitchen, a charity that has worked to deliver food aid in Gaza. One American was among those that died.
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“Biden told Netanyahu that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable,” the White House said in a summary of the conversation.
Mr. Biden said on Tuesday that he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deadly strike, which prompted international condemnation. Israeli officials have said the strike was unintentional and a mistake.
The president “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.
“He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the prime minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages home,” the White House said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby wouldn’t get into details about what any U.S. policy change might be. “If there’s no changes to their policy and their approaches, then there’s going to have to be changes to ours,” Kirby said at the White House, noting the call lasted about 30 minutes.
The strike on the World Central Kitchen workers has become the latest flashpoint in the U.S.-Israel relationship. The U.S. has significant leverage over Israel as its main supplier of weapons and military equipment.
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