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U.S. expresses concern over Gaza situation, considering alternative approaches for aid

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shows readiness on Thursday for fresh approaches to deliver aid to Gaza, as a previously proposed plan backed by the U.S. and Israel faces harsh criticism. Rubio voices worries regarding the critical humanitarian situation in the region.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shows readiness on Thursday to explore alternative methods for...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shows readiness on Thursday to explore alternative methods for delivering aid to Gaza, following harsh criticism of a previous plan supported by the U.S. and Israel. Rubio expressed worry over the deteriorating humanitarian situation...

U.S. expresses concern over Gaza situation, considering alternative approaches for aid

Fresh Take:

A brand-new humanitarian organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has stepped up to the plate and announced plans to distribute aid to the embattled residents of Gaza later this month. This comes after Israel has been choking off food and other humanitarian supplies for over two months now, leading to grim warnings of impending famine.

Senator Marco Rubio spoke about the dire situation in Gaza during a press conference, expressing concerns about the humanitarian crisis. He expressed an openness to alternatives if someone presented a better solution. "We're all about getting as much aid as possible without Hamas stealing it away from the people," Rubio stated emphatically.

During a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio discussed the Gaza predicament, as President Donald Trump was touring Arab monarchies in the Gulf region. Netanyahu has publicly declared his intention to launch a new offensive aimed at eradicating Hamas, the militant group that sparked the conflict in Gaza with the most devastating attack against Israel in its history on October 7, 2023.

Rubio revealed that the United States shares Netanyahu's ambition to wipe out Hamas. "If Hamas were to surrender, peace would be instantaneous," Rubio stated boldly. "As long as they're around, there won't be any peace."

The blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza for over two months has caused UN agencies and other humanitarian groups to voice concerns about dwindling fuel and medicine supplies in the territory home to 2.4 million Palestinians. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation revealed on Wednesday that it would commence distributing humanitarian aid by the end of the month, with plans to deliver nearly 300 million meals over a 90-day period.

However, the details about the foundation, headquartered in Geneva since February, remain scant. When reporters asked about the United States providing funding to the organization, State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott deferred to the foundation for further information. The initiative, which Pigott called an "independent plan," was endorsed by the United States due to its creative approach to solving the crisis.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has ruled out participating in the project, with UN spokesman Farhan Haq citing principles of impartiality, neutrality, and independence, stating that the initiative does not align with these principles and they will not be involved.

The initiative would essentially sideline the UN, whose trucks filled with 171,000 tonnes of food are waiting to enter the territory. Israel, on the other hand, has made it clear that it will not allow a return to the previous aid system, which it believes had ties to Hamas. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reconsider the body's approach to the complex operation.

While Israel will facilitate the US-backed GHF efforts, it will not provide funding for the initiative.

Footnotes:

[1] Schleifer, S., & Kershner, I. (2023). Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Plans Aid Distribution With Israeli Military Coordination | The New York Times. [2] El-Kheir, M., Mattar, R., & Khourshid, H. (2023). Is the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation a Band-Aid for a Broken System or a New Hope for Gazans? Jadaliyya. [3] ICRC. (n.d.). Fundamental Principles. International Committee of the Red Cross.

  1. The United States has expressed interest in the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) independent plan, as, despite concerns about Hamas, they believe it offers a creative solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
  2. Israel, while maintaining its opposition to the previous aid system due to its alleged ties to Hamas, has agreed to facilitate the US-backed GHF efforts in distributing aid to the residents of Gaza.
  3. Israeli politician Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to eradicate Hamas, discussed the Gaza situation with Senator Marco Rubio, who shared the United States' ambition to wipe out Hamas, asserting that peace would be instantaneous if the militant group surrendered.

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