The Gaza crisis is currently described as a “powder keg,” according to the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk. He emphasized the potential for the situation to escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East, urging all efforts to prevent such a scenario. Turk expressed deep concerns about the spillover effects in neighboring countries and highlighted the military escalation in southern Lebanon involving Israel, Hezbollah, and other armed groups.
He reported almost 200 casualties in Lebanon, with around 90,000 people internally displaced. Turk also pointed out the extensive damage to health facilities, schools, and vital infrastructure. He stressed the need for thorough investigations into incidents where civilians, including children, paramedics, and journalists, were killed in attacks.
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US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate six-week ceasefire deal and criticized Israel for insufficient aid deliveries to Gaza. In a strong statement, she demanded Israel to increase the flow of aid significantly, insisting on the opening of new border crossings without unnecessary restrictions. Harris’s remarks were considered the strongest by a US administration official on Israel, reflecting the increasing pressure on President Joe Biden regarding his support for Israel amid a rising civilian death toll in Gaza.
Harris also called on Hamas to accept the proposed truce, revealing that Israel had broadly accepted the deal, contingent on Hamas releasing vulnerable prisoners. The US vice president deplored the Israeli bombing on Palestinians around a convoy of aid trucks, expressing sympathy for the victims.
Harris made her comments at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where a historic march by peaceful activists was violently suppressed by police in 1965. She is scheduled to meet with Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s emergency cabinet, in Washington to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined in the appeal for both sides to ensure aid reaches the beleaguered population in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized the urgency of expanding the flow of aid, including food, water, and other assistance. Blinken mentioned ongoing efforts by the US to deliver aid through various channels, including air drops that began on Saturday.
In summary, the Gaza crisis is a source of grave concern, with calls for an immediate ceasefire, increased aid deliveries, and diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. The international community, including the United States and the UN, is actively engaged in addressing the humanitarian and geopolitical dimensions of the situation.
