US highlights dire humanitarian situation in Gaza

ATHENS

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying Washington is working to allow more aid into the Palestinian enclave.

Speaking at a press conference in Prague following an informal meeting of the NATO foreign ministers, Blinken said, “We've seen changes, some positive changes, but the net effect is not there.”

“If you look at the number of trucks that are actually getting to Gaza and going in, it's up significantly but distribution within Gaza is not working effectively. And part of the reason for that are the combat operations in the south. In addition, Rafah gate continues to be closed,” Blinken said.

However, he maintained that the US is exerting intensive efforts to make sure that the different access points are working and then aid distribution within Gaza is working more effectively.

In regard to the recent decision by ICC prosecutor, Blinken said, “We've been very clear about this the decision that the prosecutor made was, in our judgment profoundly wrongheaded. And in creating an equation between Hamas and Israel, Hamas leaders and Israel's democratically elected leaders, as we said, is shameful.”

He added, “I think it's very deeply unfortunate that Israel was prepared to cooperate with the investigation even while rejecting the jurisdiction of the court. And yet, the prosecutor chose not to pursue that cooperation.”

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

More than 36,280 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and over 82,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.