October 18, 2023
The people of Gaza need food, water, medicine, shelter.
United States President Joe Biden in a speech from Israel on Wednesday announcing that food, water and other humanitarian supplies will now be able to cross from Egypt into Gaza.
Why It Matters: Pres. Biden said, “We’re working in close cooperation with the government of Egypt; the United Nations and its agencies, like the World Food Program; and other partners in the region to get trucks moving across the border as soon as possible.” In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Israel will not prevent humanitarian assistance from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip or which is evacuating to there, and as long as these supplies do not reach Hamas.” (Southern Gaza = where Israel had ordered civilians in Gaza to take refuge).
Also: Pres. Biden announced “$100 million in new U.S. funding for humanitarian assistance in both Gaza and the West Bank,” noting that this assistance “will support more than 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians, including emergency needs in Gaza.”
Big Picture: In his remarks on the 11 days after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Pres. Biden said, “What sets us apart from the terrorists is we believe in the fundamental dignity of every human life — Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Jew, Muslim, Christian — everyone. You can’t give up what makes you who you are. If you give that up, then the terrorists win. And we can never let them win.”
Read More:
U.S. Announcement of Humanitarian Assistance to the Palestinian People
Israel will let Egypt deliver some aid to Gaza, as doctors struggle to treat hospital blast victims (The Associated Press)
by Leah Grainery, based in Texas
