In a remarkable show of solidarity, Israel approved the entry of humanitarian aid at its Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza in a bid to help the beleaguered civilians in the region. The move parallels with the essential aid stream flowing through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
The development comes in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic drive spearheaded by Jake Sullivan, President Biden's national security advisor presently in the area. Emphasizing precision, Sullivan called for a more specific targeting of Hamas leaders in what is seen as the potential next phase of the war ensnarling the region.
High-intensity rocket fire from Gaza has intermittently targeted Jerusalem, with the Iron Dome intercepting approximately half a dozen rockets in the latest round. Despite the relative scarcity of rocket attacks on Jerusalem, their persistent presence fuels the animosity and growing support for Hamas among Palestinian citizens.
Striking a balance between caution and diplomatic tact, Sullivan made it clear that he was there to ask hard questions and not prescribe a specific course of action for Israel. He discussed the anticipated transition from this aggressive phase of the fighting to a lower intensity phase. The transition is predicted to involve moving from the ongoing large-scale bombardments and the stubborn combat between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces to more precise operations targeted at the Hamas leadership.
The exact timeline of this transition remains uncertain but is expected to materialize soon. The high-intensity phase is still unfolding with active military operations in both the northern and southern halves of Gaza. Concurrently, the Biden administration welcomed the news from Israel about the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing for direct aid to Gaza.
The Kerem Shalom crossing is anticipated to contribute significantly to alleviating the humanitarian crisis brewing in the region. Prior to this, aid trucks inspected by Israel were rerouted through Egypt to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. However, the Rafah crossing's limited capacity to handle the 200 trucks of aid expected daily necessitated a more direct route, marking a silver lining in the otherwise tense environment in the region.
