Gaza Aid Centers Reopen Amid US Veto on UN Ceasefire Resolution
International Aid Centers in Gaza Need to Operate - USA Stalls Resolution - Aid centers in Gaza to commence operations - U.S. vetoes UN resolution
Get ready, Gazans! The disputed aid centers in the tumultuous Gaza Strip will reopen today following a day of renovation work, according to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The exact opening times have yet to be announced on their Arabic-language Facebook page. Enhanced security measures will be in place following reports of deadly shootings on Palestinians at these centers.
US: Resolution too lenient on Hamas
In the meantime, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the US's veto in the UN Security Council by preventing a resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and untrammeled access for humanitarian aid. Rubio argued in a statement, "We will not endorse any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and demand its disarmament and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip."
This resolution would have bolstered Hamas, according to claims, and undermined ongoing diplomatic efforts to comply with a ceasefire. All 14 member states of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, with the US being the sole dissenter.
The standoff unfolds against a backdrop of increasing concern over the distribution of aid in the blockaded coastal region. Over two million residents are teetering on the brink of starvation, following Israel's 11-week embargo on food and assistance deliveries to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel.
Israel partially lifted the embargo about two weeks ago, with the distribution of aid being delegated to the controversial GHF, bypassing UN and various humanitarian organizations. The GHF's methods are said to bypass established rules of neutral aid, putting civilians at risk, and endangering their safety, according to UN estimations.
Reports of deadly shootings on Palestinians at aid centers in recent days have been circulating, prompting the GHF to strive for the safest distribution of food parcels possible. The GHF encourages Palestinians traveling to distribution centers to adhere to the routes set by the Israeli military for safety reasons. The exact centers and opening times have yet to be specified. Not providing clear information may make it difficult for Gaza's residents to plan their perilous journeys to collect aid.
The Israeli military shot at Palestinians attempting to approach the troops on three consecutive days, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, deviating from the pre-approved path. The Hamas-controlled health authority declared on Tuesday that Israeli soldiers were responsible for the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians and injuries to around 90 others near a distribution center in Rafah.
A heated disagreement over claims
Israeli soldiers allegedly fired at suspicious individuals posing a threat around half a kilometer from the distribution point, despite issuing warning shots. These individuals did not retreat prompting Israeli soldiers to respond. Neither side's claims can be independently corroborated at present.
Wadephul's talks with Saar
The controversial reorganization of humanitarian aid is defended by the Israeli government due to previous instances of aid being stolen by Hamas. However, Israel has yet to provide compelling evidence of systematic aid theft by Hamas, according to UN organizations.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomes his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar to Berlin today, following his commitment to provide additional military assistance to Israel in the Bundestag the previous day. In the morning, the CDU politician will pay a visit to the Holocaust Memorial with his Israeli guest, laying a wreath at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Their subsequent discussions will likely focus on Israel's aggressive military operations and the dreadful humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The catalyst for this conflict was the attack on Israel by Hamas and other Islamic fundamentalists on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages. Since then, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 54,600 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza. The number encompasses combatants and civilians, making it challenging to independently verify accuracy.
The United States recently vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at enforcing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and providing unhindered humanitarian aid due to its perceived leniency towards Hamas. (politics, general-news)
The reorganization of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a controversial move by the Israeli government aimed at preventing aid from falling into the hands of Hamas, is a topic likely to be discussed during the upcoming talks between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar. (politics, general-news)
