Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said his security cabinet has approved a series of steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including the temporary reopening of a key crossing that was destroyed in the 7 October Hamas attack.
The announcement was made hours after a warning from US president Joe Biden that future US support for Israel would depend on it taking concrete action to protect civilians and aid workers.
The office of the Israeli prime minister said early on Friday that the Erez crossing, which lies in northern Gaza and for years served as the only passenger terminal for people to move in and out of the territory, would be temporarily reopened.
According to the statement, more aid would also be allowed through the port of Ashdod, which lies about 40km (25 miles) north of Gaza, and authorities would also allow “increased Jordanian aid through Kerem Shalom”, a border crossing in southern Israel.
“Israel will allow the temporary delivery of humanitarian aid through Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint,” said the Israeli statement. “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 statement added.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson welcomed the announcement, adding that the plan “must now be fully and rapidly implemented”.
“As the president said today on the call, 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,” Watson said.
International pressure has been mounting on Israel after it took responsibility for a strike that killed seven employees of US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK).
On Thursday Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza following a phone call between the US president and Netanyahu, their first since Israeli airstrikes killed seven WCK employees.
In Thursday’s call, which lasted less than 30 minutes, the US president issued the strongest US rebuke toward Israel since the start of the conflict. He “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers”, the White House said in a statement.
“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
Biden said that an “immediate ceasefire is essential” and urged Israel to reach a deal with Hamas “without delay”, the White House said.
The statement marked a sharp change in Biden’s rhetoric and suggested, for what appears to be the first time, that strings could be attached to continued US support.
Biden’s comments were echoed by his secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who said US support would be curtailed if Israel failed to adjust its conduct. “If we don’t see the changes that we need to see, there will be changes in our policy,” he told reporters in Brussels.
“Right now, there is no higher priority in Gaza than protecting civilians, surging humanitarian assistance and ensuring the security of those who provide it. Israel must meet this moment,” he said.
The US has provided crucial military aid and diplomatic support for Israel’s nearly six-month offensive, which was launched in response to Hamas’s 7 October attack in southern Israel.
“This was a military attack that involved multiple strikes and targeted three WCK vehicles,” the charity said in a statement. “All three vehicles were carrying civilians; they were marked as WCK vehicles; and their movements were in full compliance with Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route and humanitarian mission.
“An independent investigation is the only way to determine the truth of what happened, ensure transparency and accountability for those responsible, and prevent future attacks on humanitarian aid workers.”
On Thursday, the parents of one of the WCK kitchen employees, US-Canada dual citizen Jacob Flickinger, told the BBC that they did not accept Israel’s apology for his death and rejected Netanyahu’s description of the attack as a “tragic accident”.
