KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Amid mounting international pressure, Israel has announced the opening of crossings for humanitarian aid into Gaza, hours after a stern warning from United States (US) President Joe Biden.
The move was due to widespread condemnation, including from Israel’s staunch ally, the US, after a strike on the US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) on Monday (April 1), which claimed the lives of seven aid workers.
Even United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for an independent investigation into the strike, which killed US and UK nationals among the aid workers.
The announcement from Israel includes allowing temporary humanitarian aid deliveries through the Ashdod port and the Erez checkpoint.
The US government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Israel, Jordan, Egypt, the United Nations, and humanitarian organisations to ensure the effective implementation and increased aid reaching civilians in Gaza.
Meanwhile, with the opening of the corridors, Malaysia has also affirmed its readiness to provide additional assistance, with an aid mission already on standby at the Rafah border.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said: “… InsyaAllah, we will assist because we still have allocations; there is a queue of hundreds of lorries (carrying relief needs), so let us clear that first, (so that) the distribution (of aid) is more organised.”
He was speaking to the press after performing Friday prayers with 2,000 congregants at Masjid Sungai Ara Al-Huda in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Malaysia has also condemned Israel’s airstrike on WCK aid workers, expressing dismay over the suspension of the charity’s operations as a result of the incident.
The developments following the WKC strike have sparked discussions on social media, with many noting the swift action following Biden’s warning.
Former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth highlighted the leverage Biden held but had not utilised earlier, while others like Mohammed Al Saif emphasised the potential impact of earlier intervention.
The situation in Gaza remains dire. The blockade imposed by Israel has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, pushing Gaza’s population to the brink of starvation and prompting accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, and over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and 75,577 injured.
— Bernama
