By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in Saudi Arabia and Egypt in a new bid to try and secure a ceasefire and to discuss the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza. Blinken told a press conference in the Philippines, “That’s the first time an entire population has been so classified,” referring to what he said the Palestinians are facing “severe levels of acute food insecurity.” The Biden administration has repeatedly called on Israel to adhere to international law and to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Contrary to the administration’s calls for aid, aid organizations, eyewitnesses and journalists have reported that Israeli soldiers are purposely firing on Palestinians waiting for aid, aid workers and have even taken a number of people hostage including journalists. U.N. rights chief Volker Turk said Israel is blocking aid and handling the conflict in a way that “may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war.” A recent report on the humanitarian situation in Gaza revealed that 300,000 people in northern Gaza will face certain famine by May without a boost in aid. Palestinians who have tried to line up for even the smallest portions of soup or bread are telling journalists that they are being turned away.
Meanwhile, a new round of negotiations is underway in Qatar -acting as key mediator in the ceasefire and hostage talks, with Israeli spy chief David Barnea and Egyptian officials also participating. In a press conference in Doha, on Tuesday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Mohammad Al-Ansari told journalists that it’s “too early” to indicate what may happen with a ceasefire agreement. Though his tone remained cautious, Al-Ansari did say that “what gives us optimism” is that negotiations continue. When asked if an Israeli operation in Rafah is avoidable, Al-Ansari said that “any attack on Rafah would hamper any efforts to get a deal.” He added that an attack on Rafah would multiply the dire humanitarian situation in Rafah and make “unbelievable atrocities worse.” Al-Ansari said: “We are all working toward a pause that will stop the escalation on the ground.” He said it’s still too early to announce any successes but “we remain hopeful.” Al-Ansari also underscored the fact that talks in Doha are over the humanitarian part of the three phases that is separate from talks the U.S. will hold with Israel.
Photo : AA
