In the days following a tragic airstrike in which 7 aid workers lost their lives, international pressure on Israel has forced them to open up humanitarian corridors.
International Community Turning on Israel
Whilst Western democracies have been largely sympathetic to Israel following the attacks by Hamas in 2023, recent actions taken by the IDF and Israeli government have caused grave concerns.
Attitudes towards the Israeli approach were becoming more cautious for a while, but following the attack on aid workers, Biden and other Western leaders have issued Israel with a stern warning.
Biden Told Israel Support Dependent on Israel Approach
Widespread reporting on the issue said that Biden delivered a strict message – either the Israeli government would take strong steps to prevent civilian harm and ensure safety for aid workers, or the US policy on the conflict would change.
The message that American support will only exist if Israel takes more effective measures to reduce the number of civilian deaths in the conflict is a serious one. Until this point, many governments had turned somewhat of a blind eye to the collateral damage in the conflict.
Reports say that Mr Biden personally requested the opening of more humanitarian aid corridors, which would allow aid to reach the civilians caught up in the conflict safely.
Two Aid Corridors Opened
According to Israel, the Erez Gate in northern Gaza will be reopened and Ashdod Port will also be opened to allow humanitarian aid to enter. The Kerem Shalom Crossing will allow further aid to pass into Gaza from Jordan. These new routes are hoped to allow sufficient humanitarian aid to reach those most in need.
The Israeli government has promised a full investigation and called the attack ‘a tragic mistake’. This will do little to calm the anger, though – each vehicle was targeted and spread over a large area.
Having agreed to open the humanitarian corridors, the US National Security Council said it “must now be fully and rapidly implemented”. There will be much attention on the speed at which Israel takes action.
Pressure Seems to Have Opened Diplomatic Channels
The American influence seems to have worked well, opening up contact between Israel and Gaza. In November, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told local media that there would be “no more contact between Israel and Gaza”.
Whilst many were originally supportive of Israeli actions following the Hamas terror attacks, the approach to the war taken by Benjamin Netanyahu has caused a lot of anger. Many see his approach as unnecessarily aggressive.
Accusations of Israel Creating a ‘Man Made Famine’
The UN has even suggested that Israel is using hunger as a weapon of war against Gaza. They claim there’s a plausible case for the accusation. By limiting the supply of food and aid, they are causing a humanitarian crisis.
There are reports that long lines of lorries filled with humanitarian aid destined for Gaza are being held up in Egypt. This is because they have to go through a lengthy series of Israeli checks before being allowed to cross.
Due to the long checks and the desperate need for aid, the UK, USA, Jordan and others are air-dropping aid into Gaza. This is a potentially dangerous way to deliver aid and can even damage the packages. However, it’s currently the only way to deliver desperately needed supplies.
Israel has denied it is behind the aid supply issues. It has said the UN agencies on the ground aren’t distributing it quickly and effectively enough, which is causing the problem.
Aid Workers at Huge Risk
The Aid Worker Security Database, which records major incidents of violence against aid personnel says that since the start of the conflict, nearly 200 aid workers have been killed in Gaza. Not all were killed while delivering aid, but it’s a huge number of innocent deaths.
The bigger worry for the region is the risk of escalation of the conflict. So far, there have been air strikes against Iran and Syria as well, risking the spread of warfare to neighbouring regions.
Aid Should Finally Reach Those in Need
With the recent deaths of the aid workers in Israel, there’s huge shame attached to their methods and approaches to the conflict. As a result, there is likely to be a step change in the delivery rate of aid.
On a wider political note, Israel is heavily dependent on the USA as an ally in the region. With them severely trying the patience of their biggest ally, expect them to act on the warnings to improve their conduct quickly.
There’s hope that this will be the ‘start of the end’ of the conflict in the region. With the situation in Gaza reaching breaking point, and diplomatic channels opening up, let’s hope the war is entering its final stages.
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