GAZA/CAIRO/WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) – A ceasefire in the Gaza war before the start of Ramadan does not appear to be within reach. US President Joe Biden once again called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint and protect the civilian population. Meanwhile, preparations are underway to transport aid by sea to the suffering population in the Gaza Strip. The ship “Open Arms” of the Spanish aid organization of the same name was loaded with relief supplies in the port of Larnaka, Cyprus, on Sunday, ready to set sail. According to government information, it should start by Sunday evening. Larnaca is around 400 kilometers from the Gaza Strip.
The ship is loaded with around 200 tons of drinking water, medicine and food, a spokesman for the Cypriot government told the German Press Agency. It is a test drive along the route of a planned aid corridor that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis announced on Friday. Several states, including Germany, as well as various organizations want to participate in the aid deliveries via the small EU republic and by sea.
It was initially unclear where exactly the ship would land and how the help would get to the people. Delivering the goods is considered a major challenge because there is only a small fishing port in the Gaza Strip that is not deep enough for cargo ships. The US military therefore wants to set up a temporary port together with international partners, but its construction will take two months.
Germany participates in maritime corridor
Meanwhile, the US military transported the first equipment for the construction of this temporary shipping pier to the region. The responsible regional command Centcom announced this on Saturday evening (local time) on the X platform, formerly Twitter. The USA and international partners want to bring food, water and medicine to the war zone in this way. The Israeli army agreed to coordinate the construction together with the US armed forces.
Biden: Netanyahu is hurting Israel more than helping Israel
US President Biden described the situation of the people of Gaza as “desperate” on Saturday. He emphasized that Israel’s defense was “still crucial.” He will also never leave Israel’s side. At the same time, the US President clearly criticized the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. “He’s hurting Israel more than helping Israel,” Biden said. “I think this is a big mistake.” Netanyahu must pay greater attention to the innocent lives lost as a consequence of the measures taken. Recently, high-ranking representatives of the US government had increasingly toughened their tone towards Israel’s government.
Biden also warned of the impact of a possible ground offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah. In the city that borders Egypt, 1.5 million Palestinians are currently seeking protection in a confined space from the fighting in other areas of the sealed-off coastal area. Biden warned in an interview that another 30,000 Palestinians should not die as a result of the action against Hamas.
According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 31,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far. The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel’s history, in which terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups murdered around 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 in Israel on October 7th.
Thousands of Israelis demonstrate against Netanyahu
According to media reports, tens of thousands of people called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war at demonstrations in Paris and London on Saturday. Netanyahu is also under pressure at home. Thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday evening for the release of the hostages from Hamas and against Netanyahu’s government. Near the headquarters of the Defense Ministry, police stopped protesters from blocking a city highway, Israeli media reported. The authorities arrested 16 people. In Caesarea, a large crowd gathered in front of Netanyahu’s private villa.
Israeli police arrest suspects in East Jerusalem before the start of Ramadan
According to their own statements, Israel’s police also arrested 20 residents from the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem in the past two weeks. The suspects are accused of supporting or inciting terrorism, the police said. Increasingly, hate speech and fake news are currently being spread on the Internet in order to disrupt the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and destabilize the region. Israel’s police say they want to “enable the safe observance of Ramadan prayers on the Temple Mount while ensuring security in the area.” The month of fasting was expected to begin on Sunday evening.
In Israel, increased tensions and conflicts are expected in the occupied West Bank and around the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the Israeli foreign intelligence agency Mossad, Hamas in the Gaza Strip is seeking to “set the region on fire during Ramadan.” The US had originally pushed for an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of more hostages held by Hamas by the start of Ramadan. However, an agreement proposed by the mediators and accepted by Israel has so far failed from both Israeli and American perspectives due to Hamas’s intransigent stance.
Hamas sticks to its demands
For weeks, Israel and Hamas have been negotiating a temporary ceasefire in indirect talks. Hamas Politburo member Husam Badran told the Wall Street Journal that the Islamists were ready for further talks. At the same time, however, he reaffirmed Hamas’ conditions. This includes a permanent ceasefire, sufficient aid supplies across all border crossings, a plan for the reconstruction of the coastal area and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli military.
The mediators’ proposal so far only called for a six-week ceasefire and a first phase of exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners. During this ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire and the terms of the release of all remaining hostages will be negotiated. Israel has so far shown no willingness to move away from this step-by-step plan./cir/DP/mis