DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip – A US Army warship carrying supplies to construct a temporary dock in Gaza was travelling to the Mediterranean on Sunday after US President Joe Biden revealed plans to enhance assistance deliveries by sea to the besieged territory, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are suffering hungry.
The latest relief campaign comes as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was poised to begin in many parts of the world on Monday when officials in Saudi Arabia spotted the crescent moon. Hopes for a new cease-fire by Ramadan evaporated days ago, with discussions reportedly stuck.
The opening of the sea channel, combined with airdrops by the United States, Jordan, and others, demonstrated rising concern about Gaza’s grave humanitarian catastrophe and a renewed readiness to sidestep Israeli restrictions over land goods. However, humanitarian authorities believe that air and marine deliveries cannot compensate for a lack of land connections. Aid trucks entering Gaza daily are much fewer than the 500 that entered before the war.
An Endeavor To Deliver Aid To Gaza By Boat Is Progressing. However, The First Ship Is Still Waiting In Cyprus.
A ship belonging to the Spanish relief group Open Arms carrying 200 tons of food aid was due to conduct a pilot voyage to Gaza from nearby Cyprus “as soon as possible,” but not on Sunday, according to Linda Roth, a spokesman for partner organization World Central Kitchen. There was no explanation after Cyprus’ president stated that it would depart then.
Israel says it welcomes marine supplies and will inspect Gaza-bound goods before it leaves Cyprus. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant oversaw preliminary operations off the Gaza shore on Sunday.
Biden has increased his public criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming that Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in his response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which is now in its sixth month.
Speaking to MSNBC on Saturday, the US president expressed his support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas following the terrorists’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. However, Biden argued that Netanyahu “must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost.” He went on to say, “You cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 31,045 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its tally but reports that women and children account for two-thirds of the fatalities. The ministry is part of Hamas’ leadership, and its estimates from previous wars have closely matched those of the United Nations and independent experts.
Palestinian casualties continued to increase. The Civil Defense Department reported that 10 individuals were murdered Sunday in an Israeli bombing on the Ashour family’s home in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood. Dust-covered bodies were laid on blankets.
An Associated Press correspondent said that the dead 15 people, including women and children, were transported to the main hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah. Their relatives claim that Israeli artillery fire targeted a tent camp for displaced Palestinians on the shoreline close to the southern city of Khan Younis, killing them.
An Endeavor To Deliver Aid To Gaza By Boat Is Progressing. However, The First Ship Is Still Waiting In Cyprus.
Israel rarely addresses particular instances from the war. It maintains that Hamas is liable for civilian casualties because the armed group operates in civilian areas.
Meanwhile, US efforts began establishing a makeshift pier in Gaza for marine deliveries. According to U.S. Central Command, General Frank S. Besson, the first US Army vessel, left a base in Virginia on Saturday and was on its way to the Eastern Mediterranean to transport construction equipment.
US officials say the pier will most likely not be operational for several weeks.
The European Union, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries all support the sea corridor. The European Commission has stated that United Nations organizations and the Red Cross will play a role.
The ship will arrive at an unannounced site in Gaza two to three days after leaving Cyprus. The World Central Kitchen representative confirmed that building on the jetty began on Sunday.
A member of the organization told X, formerly Twitter, that after the ship’s barge arrived in Gaza, aid would be offloaded by a crane, loaded into trucks, and driven to northern Gaza, which has been largely sealed unfrom relief shipments and was the first target of Israel’s military operation.
An Endeavor To Deliver Aid To Gaza By Boat Is Progressing. However, The First Ship Is Still Waiting In Cyprus.
On October 7, Israel declared war after Hamas militants killed over 1,200 persons, the majority of whom were civilians, and abducted 250 prisoners. Israel’s air and ground offensive has damaged huge areas of Gaza and displaced almost 80% of the population of 2.3 million.
The United States and regional mediators Egypt and Qatar had hoped for a six-week cease-fire by Ramadan. A compromise would have seen Hamas release some Israeli hostages, Israel release some Palestinian inmates, and relief groups get access to a large infusion of aid.
In a speech televised Sunday, Hamas’ top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, criticized Israel for the failure to strike an agreement before Ramadan and stated that the terrorist group is willing to resume negotiations under any framework as long as it ensures a durable cease-fire.
SOURCE – (AP)
