*Biden appeals to Hamas, Palestinians not to ‘steal’ aids.
*Intensifies efforts to evacuate U.S. citizens to safety
Following exhausting engagement with Israeli, Palestinian and international community, U.S. Government has delivered the much needed humanitarian assistance to the Israeli-Hamas war victims in Gaza.
While urging Palestinians and Hamas not to interfere with the much-needed assistance, it assured U.S. citizens who are trapped in the war-ridden regions of getting them to safety.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday at the Foreign Press Centre (FPC) by the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony J. Blinken, who said it was the first since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Blinken joined U.S. partners in Egypt, Israel and the United Nations for facilitating the safe passage of a 20-truck convoy and shipments to the Gaza people through the Rafah Border Crossing.
“With this convoy, the international community is beginning to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has left residents of Gaza without access to sufficient food, water, medical care, and safe shelter.
“The opening of this essential supply route was the result of days of exhaustive U.S. diplomatic engagement in the region and an understanding President Biden reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his recent historic visit to Israel.”
He disclosed that “since that visit, Special Envoy David Satterfield has worked with the governments of Israel and Egypt, as well as the United Nations, to oversee its implementation.
He urged all parties to keep the Rafah Crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza, insisting that Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance.
According to the U.S. Top Government Official, “Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamas’s horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts.
“As President Biden stated, if Hamas steals or diverts this assistance it will have demonstrated once again that it has no regard for the welfare of the Palestinian people and as a practical matter it will hinder the international community from being able to provide this aid.”
Stressing that Civilian lives must be protected and assistance must urgently reach those in need, he assured that U.S. and other international partners would continue to stress the importance of adhering to the law of war.
He added that they would support those who are trying to get to safety or assistance of any kind, also facilitating access to food, water, medical care, and shelter for citizens wherever they are located in Gaza.
“We continue to work urgently in partnership with Egypt and Israel to facilitate the ability of U.S. citizens and their immediate family members to exit Gaza safely and travel via Egypt to their final destinations.
“There is no higher priority than the safety of U.S. citizens abroad, and U.S. Embassy Cairo teams are poised to assist these U.S. citizens. We are working tirelessly, including with partner and allied nations with citizens in Gaza, to secure their ability to safely depart the conflict area.”
