The US military is set to transport three plane loads of essential humanitarian aid to North Sinai in Egypt, which will then be delivered to Gaza to assist the local population, according to senior administration officials.
The aid includes medical supplies, food, and winter weather gear, crucial as Gaza enters its rainy season. This initiative comes amidst a temporary halt in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, extended for an additional two days to potentially facilitate the release of more hostages and enhance humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Officials clarify that this aid operation is distinct from the ongoing hostage negotiations and will persist when hostilities resume.
Termed a “significant contribution” by officials, the aid, distributed by the United Nations, aims to replenish depleted supplies in Gaza. It follows five prior domestic flights bringing aid to the region.
Administration officials have engaged with the Israeli government to progress from basic humanitarian assistance to “phase two”: facilitating the entry of commercial goods into Gaza. The current level of humanitarian aid, they argue, is insufficient, emphasizing the need for sustained delivery of both commercial and humanitarian supplies.
During the humanitarian pause, approximately 800 trucks of aid have entered Gaza, with the Biden administration intensively working on expanding humanitarian access, restoring essential services, and ensuring deconfliction mechanisms for civilian sites.
UN officials echo the need for increased aid, emphasizing that current levels are insufficient to meet critical needs in areas such as sewage, water, and hospitals.
President Joe Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to escalate humanitarian aid into Gaza, emphasizing the United States’ leadership in responding to the humanitarian crisis. He stated, “We are taking full advantage of the pause in fighting to increase the amount of humanitarian aid moving into Gaza, and we will continue our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for the Palestinian people.”
