The United States increased its delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza on Saturday by distributing approximately 38,000 meals via military aircraft, when the White House expects Israel and Palestine commit to six-week ceasefire agreement before Ramadan begins on March 10.
The US objective, as announced this Saturday by senior White House administration officials, is “flood” the humanitarian aid zone in order to avoid the havoc that “criminal gangs” produce when they use this type of help.
The food packages, which were sent with aid from Jordan, did not include water or medical supplies and, according to humanitarian aid organizations, these airdrops are very far from meeting the food and supply needs in the areawhere more than 2 million people face famine.
According to the White House, after the US dropped food in targeted areas of Gaza, civilians distributed the food without incident. This was the first time the US dropped assistance from the air.
“We are looking at land, sea and air routes to really make sure we are exploring all opportunities,” a White House official said.
This week, the United States government announced the sending of $53 million in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank through its Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who is now on an official visit to Palestine, said that Much of this aid will go to food programs through the World Food Program and non-governmental organizations at the international level.
Possibility of ceasefire
Regarding the possibility of a ceasefire, according to the White House, Israel has “more or less” accepted a proposed six-week ceasefire in Gaza, while Hamas has not yet accepted a “defined category.” of vulnerable hostages.”
The six-week ceasefire would allow the release of several of the hostages held in Gaza and the flow of humanitarian aid, they explained in a call with the media.
“The path to a ceasefire right now is simple. There’s a deal on the table. The Israelis have more or less accepted it. And there could be a six-week ceasefire in Gaza starting today, if Hamas agrees to release a defined category of vulnerable hostages,” the official noted.
According to the spokesperson, ceasefire talks are still ongoing in Doha.
For its part, on Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire”.
In almost five months of war, more than 30,200 people have died in the Gaza Strip, including the 115 who died on Thursday during a food distribution in Gaza City, when Israel fired on people waiting, as it has admitted, although he attributes the number of victims to an avalanche caused by the hungry crowd that rushed against the trucks.
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