The Israeli government has given its approval for the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, a move aimed at facilitating the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The crossing had been closed since October 7th, following a terrorist attack by Hamas on southern Israel, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
This decision was made during a visit to Israel by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who hailed the reopening as "a significant step." Sullivan took to Twitter to share his discussions with the Israeli war cabinet, where they focused on the shared objective of defeating Hamas while minimizing harm to civilians and ensuring the increased and sustained flow of humanitarian assistance.
According to a White House press release, Sullivan stated, "President Biden raised this issue in recent phone calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and it was an important topic of discussion during my visit to Israel over the past two days.
The United States remains committed to expanding and sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza."
The closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing meant that all humanitarian aid had to be delivered solely through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing, as highlighted by the Jerusalem Post. This limited access has posed challenges in delivering aid efficiently and timely to the people of Gaza.
The reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing is expected to alleviate some of these challenges and provide a more direct route for humanitarian aid to reach those in need. It signifies a joint effort by the Israeli government and the United States to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure the well-being of its citizens.
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