US calls on Israel to allow more vehicles with humanitarian cargo into Gaza Strip
The US calls on Israel to allow more vehicles with humanitarian cargo into the Gaza Strip (photo: Getty Images)
The White House is pressuring Israel to increase the daily flow of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to 350 vehicles per day, according to Reuters.
According to the White House spokesperson John Kirby, CIA Director William Burns was in Cairo over the weekend for serious negotiations on securing the release of hostages held in Gaza.
Kirby also stated that Washington wants between 300 and 350 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza daily, and better security for humanitarian workers after seven World Central Kitchen employees were killed last week in Israeli airstrikes.
"Obviously we need to see this number increase, and we need to see it sustained to really address the dire humanitarian situation," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Israel has not yet provided adequate explanations for the deaths of humanitarian workers, including an Australian citizen and dual US and Canadian citizen. Two Israeli officers were dismissed, and the rest were reprimanded.
Extension of humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip
It should be noted that on the eve, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the opening of the Erez crossing between Israel and the northern part of the Gaza Strip for the first time since the Hamas attack on October 7.
Additionally, on April 5, the Israeli authorities announced the opening of new routes for humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip against the backdrop of warnings from US President Joe Biden. Israeli officials also stated that they plan to increase the amount of aid from Jordan through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
