Israel’s security cabinet authorized increased aid for Gaza after US President Joe Biden threatened to change his administration’s supportive policies unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took action on the matter.
“The Cabinet authorized the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Minister [Benny] Gantz to take immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip,” the Prime Minister’s Office said after ministers held a meeting Thursday night.
“This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
To help facilitate the delivery of the aid, Israel will temporarily allow goods for Gaza to land at the port in Ashdod, a step which had been halted after the Hamas-led attack on October 7.
Israel also plans to temporarily open the Erez crossing by northern Gaza and close to Ashdod for the entry of humanitarian assistance.
More Jordanian aid will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the PMO stated.
The move followed a half-an-hour phone call between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the American leader expressed his outrage over the IDF killing of seven aid workers from the Work Central Kitchen.
Israel has apologized for the killing, explaining that it was accidental, and is investigating the incident.
In a post on X Biden stated, “Today, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to emphasize that strikes on aid workers and the humanitarian situation in Gaza are unacceptable.
“Israel must implement steps to address civilian harm and the safety of workers – and work toward a ceasefire to bring hostages home,” he stated.
US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters it expected Israel to make changes to its Gaza policy within days if not hours.
At the cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Israel Katz supported the increase in humanitarian aid in light of the urgent diplomatic need for Israel to take action on the matter.
He opposed, however, the use of the Ashdod port for goods to Gaza, since this contradicts his belief that in the aftermath of the war, the connection between Israel and the enclave must be severed.
Until the war, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza had been the main corridor through which goods entered the enclave.
Katz is among those Israeli politicians who believe that the Hamas-led attack on October 7 in which over 1,200 people were killed, makes it impossible to return to that arrangement.
He fears that returning to the system by which goods arrived in Ashdod and then were transported by land to Gaza, is one of the steps that marks the return to a system by which Israel is responsible for delivering aid to Gaza.
Ben-Gvir in denial
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from Otzma Yehudit accused the Prime Minister’s Office of publishing false information when it stated that the security cabinet had approved the increase of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"There was no vote this evening in the Cabinet on an agreement by Ministers [Yoav] Galant and [Benny] Gantz on the increase of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the announcement on the subject by the Prime Minister's Office - is incorrect,” Ben-Gvir said.
He and other ministers had opposed the proposal, he said, adding that retreated that Netanyahu had not brought the matter to a vote.
"The right way to return our hostages is to stop sending aid to Gaza, and to stipulate a condition - a humanitarian act only in exchange for a humanitarian act,” Ben-Gvir said.
He lamented the fact that the IDF had not yet entered Rafah to destroy the last remaining Hamas battalions there, a move that has been opposed by the international community, including the US.
“It's a shame that instead of entering Rafah, there are those who prefer to engage in bringing equipment into Gaza that ends up directly in the hands of Hamas. We must enter Rafah now!” Ben-Gvir said.
After the meeting, Katz continued to do damage control with Israeli allies, including those from countries whose citizens were among the seven aid workers killed: the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Poland.
He also spoke with the foreign ministers from Japan and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the issues he discussed was the IDF investigation into the deaths of the WCK aid workers and the increase in humanitarian aid.