The essential facts
While the White House remains optimistic about a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Jewish state increases airstrikes on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip, where the army has already taken control of the strategic crossing with Egypt. Washington also “suspended the delivery of a shipment” of bombs last week after Israel’s lack of response to its “concerns” regarding an announced offensive on Rafah. This decision is made public at a time when the Biden administration is confronted in the United States with a movement of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campuses for its military support for Israel. And while the Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators are holding discussions in Cairo with a view to a ceasefire after seven months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Information to remember
⇒ Washington suspended a delivery of bombs to Israel
⇒ Israeli airstrike kills at least seven in Gaza
⇒ The White House optimistic about a ceasefire agreement
Washington suspends delivery of bomb shipment
The United States suspended the delivery of a shipment of bombs last week after Israel’s lack of response to Washington’s “concerns” over an announced offensive on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, a senior US official said on Tuesday. “We suspended the delivery of a weapons shipment last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs,” the senior military official said. administration of US President Joe Biden on condition of anonymity. “We have not made a final decision on how to proceed with this shipment,” he added.
This decision was taken as Washington opposes a large-scale offensive prepared by Israeli troops in Rafah. The United States has made clear that it does not support an offensive without a credible plan to protect the civilians sheltering there. Joe Biden “reiterated his clear position” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Israeli and U.S. officials have discussed alternatives, but “those discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns,” the senior U.S. official said.
Republicans criticized the decision. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson on Tuesday denounced any measures aimed at limiting military aid to Israel. “Just when we thought only college presidents were giving in to the absurd demands of pro-Hamas students, the president himself has now reportedly cut off munitions shipments to Israel,” Mike Johnson told reporters before the official announcement from the United States.
Intense strikes on Gaza
An Israeli airstrike killed at least seven people and injured many others early Wednesday in Gaza City, a local hospital said. Witnesses also reported shootings and strikes in the center and south of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the Rafah sector.
The Israeli army deployed tanks on Tuesday in Rafah (south), took control of the border crossing with Egypt and closed the two main access points for humanitarian aid (Rafah and Kerem Shalom), a measure considered ” unacceptable” by the United States.
“Last chance” talks in Cairo
Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators hold discussions in Cairo with a view to a ceasefire. “All parties agree to return to the negotiating table” for a truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Egyptian media Al-Qahera News, close to the intelligence services, said on Tuesday.
Israel and Hamas “should be able to fill the gaps that remain” to conclude a ceasefire agreement currently under discussion, declared a White House spokesperson, John Kirby, saying he hoped for a agreement “very soon”. The Israeli Prime Minister said he had instructed the Israeli delegation in Cairo to “continue to be firm on the conditions necessary for the release” of the hostages and “essential” to Israel’s security.
Construction of US artificial port for Gaza aid completed
The US military has completed building a temporary artificial port in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid but it cannot be installed at this time due to weather conditions, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday. Faced with Israel’s blockages to the delivery of aid by land to the besieged Palestinian territory in the grip of a humanitarian disaster, Joe Biden announced at the beginning of March the establishment of this temporary structure.
The cost of constructing the port is expected to be around $320 million.