the Israeli government must make humanitarian aid to Gaza its “number one” priority, assures the United States

Israel must make the protection of civilians and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip its “number one” priority, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared on Wednesday March 13.

“We expect the Israeli government to make this issue a priority. Protecting civilians, getting people the help they need, that has to be the number one priority, even if they do what is necessary to defend the country and face the threat posed by Hamas”Antony Blinken told the press.

“Israel still needs to open as many access points as possible”

The head of American diplomacy was speaking after a closed-door meeting on aid to Gaza, bringing together Cyprus, the Emirates, Qatar and the European Union, in order to finalize details on the construction of ‘a pier on the coast of the Gaza Strip to unload aid shipments. A first ship using a maritime corridor between Cyprus and the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid left for the Palestinian territory on Tuesday.

“There is movement, and it is positive, but it remains insufficient“, affirmed Antony Blinken, citing the different means of delivering humanitarian aid, by road, air or even sea. “Israel still needs to open as many access points as possible, and keep them open to ensure things flow sustainably” in the Gaza Strip, deploring in this regard “restrictions which are not necessary”.