The United States considers Israel’s closure of two important humanitarian aid entry points into Gaza, Rafah and Kerem Shalom, “unacceptable,” a White House spokesman said today.
“The closed crossings must be reopened, it is unacceptable that they are closed,” said Karin Jean-Pierre. The Kerem Shalom entry point is expected to reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, according to an update received by the US.
The UN and other international aid agencies said the closure of the two crossings to southern Gaza, Rafah and Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom, has effectively cut off the Palestinian enclave from outside aid and few supplies inside.
Richard Brennan, regional emergency director for the eastern Mediterranean for the World Health Organization, says the impact of the now-closed Rafah crossing “makes a catastrophic, catastrophic situation much worse”.
Aid has already fallen “well short of what is needed” in recent months, and food, essential water supplies and sanitation equipment “are now much less accessible to the people of Gaza,” Brennan said.
“Today, we expected to evacuate 140 patients, but now that the lifeline is closed for patients,” he said, noting that the movement of humanitarian staff has also stopped.
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