Responding to the request made by President Joe Biden during his visit to Israel on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not object to the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
Biden raised the request in his meetings in Tel Aviv, first with Netanyahu and then with Israel’s war cabinet. He also addressed the issue when he spoke to the press before returning to Washington.
‘’In light of the overwhelming and vital American support for the [Israeli] war effort and in light of President Biden's demand for basic humanitarian aid [for the residents of Gaza], the war cabinet unanimously decided the following,’’ said a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office, detailing three resolutions adopted.
‘’First, Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned. Second, Israel demands Red Cross visits to the hostages. …Third, in light of President Biden's demand, Israel will not object for the transfer of humanitarian supplies via Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip or moving there.’’
