The war between Israel and Gaza live | Israel will open the Erez crossing “as soon as possible,” according to the Defense Minister international

The Israeli Defense Minister says they will open the Erez crossing “as soon as possible”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirmed on Wednesday that the opening of the Erez border crossing, which connects northern Gaza to Israel, will take place “as soon as possible” with the aim of increasing humanitarian aid reaching this area of ​​the Strip. pocket. Gallant did not provide further details or specify a date during a press conference in Tel Aviv.

Israel committed to opening the Erez crossing, which was closed during more than six months of war, as well as making the port of Ashdod, in the south of the country, ready for work to land humanitarian supplies, after the last warning issued to it. US President Joe Biden said that his support from now on will be conditional on increasing humanitarian aid.

It is estimated that at least 300,000 people are at risk of famine in the northern Gaza Strip, where the arrival of supplies and humanitarian aid faces great difficulties due to the closure of border crossings and the destruction of roads in the Gaza Strip.

Biden's message came after the Israeli attack on a convoy belonging to the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) that killed seven humanitarian workers, which Gallant today called a “huge mistake,” comparing it to the killing of three Israeli hostages last year. Because of gunshots fired by the army, thinking they were militiamen.

Part of the international community has been pressing Israel for weeks to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, because during most of the Israeli offensive only two of the seven border crossings were operational: the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is in Israeli territory, and the Netzar crossing. – Rafah inside Egyptian territory.

UNICEF condemns the fact that both crossings are located in the south of the Strip, making it difficult for some of this aid to reach northern Gaza, where malnutrition problems among women and children have escalated in an alarming manner. “For me, sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip has been a priority since the first day of the war, but it is not easy to convince the Israeli population that not everyone in Gaza is the enemy,” Gallant said, referring to the impact. The Hamas attacks on October 7 affected Israeli society.

Galant also spoke about the possible attack on the city of Rafah, in the south of the Strip, where 1.4 million people live in crowded conditions, and thousands have come to escape the fighting in the north. The minister said, “Yes or yes, we will enter this city. We must ensure that nothing of Hamas remains.” He also indicated that they would “give time” to civilians so that they can evacuate the city and move to more “safe” places. (Effy)