US Trying to Get Aid Into Gaza And Its Own Citizens Out

The United States is looking to secure the transit of more critical aid into Gaza and the departure of its own citizens as Israel expands ground operations into the Palestinian territory amid its escalating war with Hamas.

"The United States remains focused on proactive measures to alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, such as to institute a mechanism by which we can transit in critical assistance to Gaza and enable the voluntary departure of U.S. citizens and other civilians seeking to leave," a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Newsweek on Monday.

Also on Monday, White House National Security Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said that 45 aid trucks crossed into Gaza on Sunday and that U.S. officials were "confident" this figure could be increased to "about 100 a day" following talks with Israeli counterparts. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that it "received 26 trucks containing food supplies and medical equipment from the Egyptian Red Crescent" via the Rafah crossing on Monday, but that fuel has yet to be allowed through.

The developments came a day after President Joe Biden discussed the deepening conflict in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to whom the U.S. leader "underscored the need to immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza," according to a White House readout.

That same day, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that at least 33 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza, though "a much larger volume of aid is needed on a regular basis to prevent further deterioration in the dire humanitarian situation, including civil unrest."

In his call with Netanyahu on Sunday, Biden also "reiterated that Israel has every right and responsibility to defend its citizens from terrorism and underscored the need to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law that prioritizes the protection of civilians." The two men additionally "discussed ongoing efforts to locate and secure the release of hostages, to include American citizens who remain unaccounted for and may be held by Hamas."

Israeli officials have counted more than 1,400 killed in Israel and more than 230 taken hostage since Hamas and allied Palestinian movements launched a surprise land, air and sea assault on Israel October 7. A number of foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, are also believed to be among the captives, and around 600 U.S. nationals are estimated to be in Gaza, some of whom the White House has said are trying to exit via the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. was in negotiations regarding both U.S. hostages and other U.S. citizens looking to exit Gaza, but that Hamas has been preventing their departure in exchange for demands he declined to make public.

That same day, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters that "there has been an intensive State Department-led effort to work with all relevant stakeholders, which include Israel, Egypt, the United Nations and Hamas, who has to allow for safe movement of those civilians through Gaza and out through the Rafah crossing."

The efforts come amid an unprecedented campaign launched against Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with ground units now expanding operations in the Hamas-held territory. The Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry has reported over 8,000 killed since the war began, and both local authorities and international aid agencies have warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis as critical resources reportedly grew increasingly scarce as a result of the conflict and Israeli restrictions.

At least four hostages, two Israeli citizens and two U.S. citizens, have been released after deals were reached through mediation by Egypt and Qatar. Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has said it would release all non-Israeli hostages "the moment the conditions on the ground allow."

Hamas Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar said in a statement Saturday that his group was "ready to conduct an immediate prisoner swap deal that includes the release of all Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli jails in exchange for all prisoners held by the Palestinian resistance."

In a separate statement published by Hamas' media office that same day, the group demanded that "the Rafah crossing must be opened" and accused Israel of committing "war crimes" by "banning fuel and cutting off water and electricity" to Gaza. The group also hailed a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed Friday calling for a humanitarian truce and the transit of aid into Gaza.

The vote was backed by 120 countries, with Israel and the U.S. among the 14 countries opposing it. Another 45 nations abstained.

Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that the IDF followed international law when it comes to its ongoing campaign against Gaza and have accused Hamas of orchestrating systematic atrocities in its October 7 attack, as well as using civilians as human shields in Gaza. Hamas has rejected the accusations, while both Israeli and Hamas officials have acknowledged that non-combatants have likely been killed as a result of their actions.

Speaking during a news conference on Monday, Netanyahu asserted that "not a single civilian has to die," accusing Hamas of "preventing them from leaving the areas of the conflict."

This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.