Some notes & quotes from recent reads:
Israel to Reopen Erez Crossing for Gaza Aid After US Pressure
Quotes:
Israel’s government announced on Friday that it will reopen a key border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow for more aid into the besieged enclave for the first time since the war with Hamas erupted Oct. 7.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the temporary reopening of the Erez border crossing with northern Gaza as well as the Ashdod port about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Gaza, along with an increase of aid coming from Jordan via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza.
The measures were approved during a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet late on Thursday, hours after a tense phone call between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden.
During the call, Biden condemned the Israeli strikes on humanitarian workers in Gaza as “unacceptable” and called for an “immediate cease-fire” to guarantee the protection of civilians.
According to a White House readout of the call, Biden further threatened to make changes to US support for the Israeli campaign in Gaza unless Israel announces “concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.”
“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” the readout added.
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