TL/DR –
The US has warned Israel that further mass displacement of Palestinians in its conflict with Hamas could lead to a humanitarian crisis that exceeds international capacity to respond, according to senior Biden administration officials. The UN suggests most of Gaza’s 2.2 million inhabitants have already been displaced due to the conflict. According to the officials, the Biden administration has been increasing humanitarian aid during the recent cease-fire, and has advised Israel not to impede humanitarian sites such as hospitals and UN-supported shelters in future military operations.
US Warns Israel Against Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The US has urged Israel to avoid escalating the humanitarian crisis by ensuring more precise fighting that limits the displacement of Palestinians in its conflict with Hamas, senior Biden administration officials revealed.
The United Nations has indicated that the ongoing fighting has already displaced a majority of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
These statements from the Biden administration represent its strongest caution to Israel about the expansion of their military action. Leaders in Washington have stressed the importance of maintaining vital resources such as water and power and protecting essential facilities like hospitals and UN-supported shelters in war-affected zones.
The ceasefire, implemented last week, has brought the first significant respite from the violence, allowing the exchange of hostages and prisoners. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated the intention to continue fighting post-ceasefire, which was extended for two additional days recently.
The US is leveraging this additional time to start sending military relief flights with essential supplies like food, medical items, and winter necessities to Egypt for the civilian population in Gaza. Officials acknowledge that current aid levels are insufficient for normal life in Gaza, but express hope for continued aid delivery, independent of hostage releases, even when fighting resumes.
John F. Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, highlighted that since the fighting pause, Gaza has seen its largest humanitarian convoy since the onset of the war. “Our team has prioritized getting this much-needed relief into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians there,” Mr. Kirby noted.
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