President Biden issued a warning to Hamas, cautioning them against interfering with humanitarian shipments to the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that the continuous delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians hinges on the goods reaching them without any diversion or theft by Hamas.
In a rare prime-time address, President Biden disclosed that an agreement had been reached to initiate the shipment of humanitarian supplies into Gaza. This accord was achieved after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Earlier, President Biden had pledged $100 million in humanitarian support for Palestinians and expressed condolences for civilian casualties, including the tragic explosion at a Gaza hospital. He clarified that Israel was not responsible for this event, which has further exacerbated tensions in the Arab world.
President Biden stressed the importance of acknowledging the humanity of innocent Palestinians who desire peace and opportunity, despite the actions of Hamas terrorists. He reiterated the commitment of the United States to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination.
These remarks provide insight into the commencement of aid shipments, set to begin on Friday, offering a lifeline to Palestinian civilians enduring intense Israeli aerial bombardments in Gaza. Israel has been conducting these strikes to target Hamas military infrastructure and leaders, as Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel. Gaza residents have been trapped in a densely populated enclave with limited options for safety, as shipments of essential supplies had halted with the outbreak of the conflict. Egypt’s closure of the Rafah border crossing had also contributed to this crisis.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously expressed concerns about the possibility of Hamas seizing, destroying, or blocking aid shipments, and he affirmed the U.S. commitment to preventing such interference with humanitarian assistance.
