Israel has announced the opening of humanitarian aid routes to allow more aid into the Gaza strip.
As per Sky News, the Israeli government spokesperson said, “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.”
The northern Gaza border, Erez Crossing, will be opened for the first time since October 7, 2023.
Along with that, the Israeli cabinet has also approved the temporary use of the Israeli Port of Ashdod for transferring aid to Gaza.
It comes after the US President Joe Biden reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately allow more trucks carrying humanitarian aid into Gaza during a call on Thursday, April 5.
Moreover, the US National Security Council welcomed Israel’s plan and called for the rapid implementation of the decision.
The White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson warned, “US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel's immediate action on these and other steps, including steps to protect innocent civilians and the safety of aid workers."
The United Nations called the opening of routes for aid a ‘positive news,’ CNN reported.
According to Oxfam, the residents of Gaza have been forced to survive on an average of just 245 calories a day since January 2024.
As per Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), “Today, all 2.2 million people in Gaza do not have enough food, with half of the population on the brink of starvation and famine projected to arrive in the north, anytime between mid-March and May.”
