US He assured that Israel agreed this Thursday to allow four-hour daily “humanitarian breaks” in northern Fita to allow civilians to leave the country.
In a call with reporters, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby announced that Israel had informed the United States that there would be “no military operations” during these pauses, which begin today.
Kirby admitted that there were still “concerns” about the possibility that Hamas would try to prevent civilians from leaving the country.
In any case, he called on the civilian population to try to leave “active” conflict areas and also considered it “crucial” that humanitarian aid be expanded to areas where civilians are moving.
The White House spokesperson recalled that the breaks in the south of the Gaza Strip allowed thousands of people to leave the country and humanitarian aid to enter, but that this aid needed to be expanded.
He therefore welcomed the fact that 106 trucks passed through the southern Gaza Strip Rafa in Egypt. However, he hopes that this number will increase as soon as possible.
“We need to see more, and we need to see more quickly,” said Kirby, who believed 150 truckloads of humanitarian aid should be arriving per day, and while there are days when that isn’t possible, at least it should be that way. . If it is objective.
Kirby emphasized that Israel is fighting an enemy – Hamas militias – who have “entrenched themselves in the civilian population, using hospitals and civilian infrastructure to protect themselves” and putting the “innocent Palestinian people” in greater danger.
But he also stressed that Israel has “a duty to fully comply with international law” and said these humanitarian pauses are “a step in the right direction” because they aim to give civilians “the opportunity to move to safer areas to move”.
Asked whether these rifts were part of a broader agreement that would lead to the release of hostages, Kirby said he would not publicly “negotiate.”
However, he emphasized that the United States continues to work with its allies in the region to free the hostages and believes these pauses would be “helpful” in providing the hostages with a “safe” exit if necessary.
He stressed that in any case they are already useful for other purposes, such as evicting civilians, transferring them to safe areas and bringing in aid. Therefore, he emphasized that the United States was “happy” that Israel is doing this. Be willing to take this step, which can serve ‘multiple purposes’.
Kirby highlighted U.S. President Joe Biden’s direct involvement, along with other administration positions such as Secretary of State Antonio Blinken and Homeland Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, in ongoing contacts with Israel, which made these decisions possible.
On the other hand, the White House spokesman reiterated that the United States does not believe that Israel’s indefinite occupation of the Gaza Strip is “in the best interests of Israel or the Palestinian people.” A position that, he emphasized, “will not change”.
While the United States understands the need for a “transition period” during which Israeli forces would be present, “that does not mean the government of Gaza,” Kirby emphasized.
He reiterated that the Palestinian people “have the right to decide their future and how they want to be governed,” as well as a governance structure that “represents their interests and allows them to pursue their objectives.”
“And we absolutely believe that the Palestinian Authority should be part of this process,” he added.
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
