US Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday evening called on Israel to increase its efforts in allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, citing a report by the United Nations World Food Programme. According to the report, nearly two weeks have passed since any food aid has entered the northern part of the strip. Harris took to social media platform X, urging Israel to “urgently do more” to facilitate the flow of aid to those in need. She emphasized that civilians must be protected and have access to essential necessities like food, water, and medicine, with international humanitarian law being respected.
The WFP report highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where almost all food distribution points in the northern part of the strip have been shut down due to airstrikes and ground operations. Israel’s military has repeatedly ordered the evacuation of the northern part of the strip, with the most recent order issued over the weekend. The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the region escalated after the terrorist group’s attack on Israel over a year ago, resulting in Israel’s killing of a top official from another terrorist organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on October 10.
The WFP report reveals that the organization has only managed to bring in four percent of the food required to sustain a million people in Gaza this month, with aid entering the strip at its lowest level in months. The report raises concerns about the severe impact of the reduced aid on the civilian population.
As tensions in the region continue to escalate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a plan to cut off all humanitarian aid from northern Gaza in an effort to starve out Hamas terrorists. The plan would give Palestinians a week to leave the area before declaring it a closed military zone and terminating aid. Officials believe around 300,000 Palestinians remain in northern Gaza despite previous evacuation orders.
The Biden administration has expressed opposition to any reduction in the size of Gaza, emphasizing the need for continued humanitarian aid to the region. Harris’s statement on Sunday evening reflects the administration’s stance, underscoring the importance of protecting civilians and upholding international humanitarian law in the face of escalating violence. The situation in Gaza remains a pressing concern for global leaders, with the international community closely watching developments in the region.
