Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office appeared to deny reports of a humanitarian corridor that would allow the passage of foreign nationals out of the Gaza Strip via Egypt’s Rafah crossing. Some 600 American passport holders, as well as an unconfirmed number of other foreign nationals, are stuck in the blockaded enclave as it endures fierce Israeli bombardment, NBC News reports.
“There is currently no cease-fire and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the expulsion of foreigners,” Netanyahu’s office said in a Google-translated statement.
U.S. President Joe Biden warned that an Israeli re-occupation of Gaza would be a “big mistake” in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes.” He also said that the Palestinian militant group Hamas should be eliminated entirely, but that “there must be a path to a Palestinian state.”
The White House has so far fully supported what it says is “Israel’s right to defend itself.” Israel is on its 10th day of an aerial bombardment campaign of the Gaza Strip, over which it has ordered a total siege, cutting off water, food and electricity supplies to a population of 2 million people.
The siege, which has been criticized by human rights groups for breaking humanitarian law, comes in response to a brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. The death toll from the conflict so far has risen to at least 1,400 people killed in Israel and nearly 2,700 people killed in Gaza.
Amid ongoing conflict, the presidents of Russia and Syria have urged an end to hostilities.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said its aid workers will no longer be able to continue humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip unless new supplies are allowed into the enclave.
Israel’s military continued to urge residents to move from northern Gaza to the south as it pledged to counter Hamas with “an even greater force.” The evacuation orders have been criticized by many humanitarian agencies.
Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will travel to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies.
Griffiths, who is expected to stay in the region for a few days, will begin in Egypt with a possible stop in Israel.
The trip was announced by United Nations Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric during a daily press briefing.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has previously called for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.
— Amanda Macias
(Source: CNBC)
