World leaders and humanitarian groups are urging Israel to deliver tangible results after announcing the opening of more aid routes into the Gaza Strip in response to pressure from the United States. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken welcomed the new aid routes but emphasized that the real test will be the actual delivery of aid on a sustained basis.
Germany’s foreign minister also called on Israel to open the new aid routes quickly, with concerns mounting over the looming famine in Gaza. Despite the announcement of new aid routes, some Gazans reported that the aid was still insufficient to feed their families.
The international community expressed outrage over Israeli drone strikes that killed aid workers in Gaza, leading to the suspension of operations by humanitarian organizations. Calls were made for Israel to ensure the safety of aid workers and for urgent efforts to address hunger in Gaza.
At the United Nations, Palestinian representatives criticized Israel’s actions, while Israel defended itself by attributing civilian casualties to Hamas’s use of civilian infrastructure and vehicles. The passage of a resolution urging countries to stop supplying arms to Israel further highlighted tensions at the international level.
Efforts to reach a ceasefire and negotiate a deal with Hamas have been hampered by stalled talks. The C.I.A. director was set to travel to Cairo to meet with Israeli officials and mediators in an attempt to facilitate an agreement. Overall, the international community is calling for concrete actions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ensure the delivery of crucial aid.
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