In a video clip posted last Friday, it is revealed that US President Joe Biden has alerted Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of an impending “come to Jesus” meeting, a term that highlights a frank discussion. This conversation is expected to tackle the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The video, shared on social media by Democratic advisor Sawyer Hackett, captures Biden addressing Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennett, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Bennett informed Biden of the necessity to urge Israel in allowing more aid into Gaza.
The US has been air dropping aid deliveries to Gaza and is arranging for a temporary dock’s establishment for ship deliveries due to the slowed truck deliveries initiated by Israel. When quizzed about this scenario while leaving on Air Force One for Philadelphia, Biden denied making the comment within the Gaza segment of his State of the Union speech. However, acknowledging a post-speech conversation, he claimed reporters had listened in without his consent.
In the meantime, Israel has reportedly increased the pressure on Rafah, the only part of the Gaza Strip not yet invaded where several displaced Palestinians reside. Residents state that Israel targeted one of Rafah’s largest apartment blocks over the weekend, displacing dozens of families but not causing any casualties. The Israeli forces did not issue an immediate response concerning the situation.
An inhabitant of a tower consisting of 300 residents informed Reuters that Israel had issued a 30-minute evacuation warning during the night. Mohammad Al-Nabrees described the scene as chaotic, with scared people rushing down the stairs, leaving belongings and even money behind due to the panic. He also mentioned a friend’s pregnant wife among those who stumbled in the rush.
A Rafah-based official associated with the Fatah party, which is influential in the Palestinian Authority that holds limited autonomy in the occupied West Bank, expressed his fear that the attack on the Rafah tower could signal an impending Israeli invasion.
In the five-month-long air and ground onslaught on Gaza by Israel, health officials reported nearly 31,000 Palestinian fatalities, over 72,500 injuries and many more trapped under debris. The attack has led to a massive humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, which is still recovering from a 17-year-long Israeli blockade. The region is largely devastated, with most of its 2.3 million inhabitants displaced, causing the UN to raise alarm regarding potential disease outbreaks and famine.
The Gaza health ministry spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qidra, announced that dehydration and malnutrition had tragically claimed the lives of three Palestinian children at the northern Al Shifa Hospital the previous night. This took the death toll from similar causes in the past 10 days to 23.
International Committee of the Red Cross president, Mirjana Spoljaric, expressed how this ruthless war had destroyed any remnants of shared humanity. She appealed for an end to the violence to enable effective aid distribution in Gaza. She further demanded the release of all hostages by Hamas without any terms and appealed to Israel to humanely treat the Palestinians in its custody and allow them to communicate with their families.
The ongoing conflict was provoked by an assault on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7th, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities and the capture of 253 hostages, as per Israeli records.
Negotiations for a ceasefire and the liberation of 134 hostages trapped in Gaza appeared to hit a snag before the anticipated deadline, the Muslim month of Ramadan, scheduled to commence on or around March 10th.
A source within Hamas conveyed to Reuters that it is “improbable” for a return delegation to Cairo for further discussions during the weekend. The lack of development in the situation has been attributed to Israel by Hamas, as they continue to withhold any assurances or affirmations to cease the war or withdraw army personnel from Gaza Strip.
In a communique detailing their operations in Gaza in the recent 24 hours, the Israeli military announced the detainment of individuals, the detection of arms, and the liquidation of over 30 militants in Khan Younis, including the Hamad vicinity, central Gaza and northwards in Beit Hanoun.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that a minimum of 82 lives were lost due to Israeli offensive across the Gaza Strip in the preceding day.
In Khan Younis, medical professionals confirmed that no less than 23 individuals lost their lives in home invasions conducted by the military and Israeli bombardment of a residential complex in the city’s Hamad district. Medics also reported that Israeli bombardment eliminated a Palestinian angler along the seashore in the northern Gaza Strip. – Reuters
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