For months, the Biden administration has urgently and repeatedly called on the Netanyahu administration to pursue more targeted operations against Hamas and dramatically increase the facilitation of humanitarian assistance through the Rafah River and Kerem Shalom crossings. Ta. Israel largely ignored these appeals. Additionally, the humanitarian crisis will worsen as Netanyahu’s government considers a military operation in Rafah, home to more than 1 million displaced Palestinians.
Given the lack of meaningful response to the Biden administration’s appeals to the Netanyahu regime, the onus is on the United States to take the lead. It is imposed on the United States because we are the largest provider of military aid to Israel. The United States provides many of the bombs and shells used by Israel in the Gaza operation, so we are responsible for that. Because the United States has extensive maritime shipping capacity to deliver aid and may be the only country to allow Israel to coordinate the provision of direct aid to Gaza to address the suffering, That is our responsibility.
Additionally, our values require us to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Amid conflict after conflict around the world, we shine a light on humanitarian tragedies and hold governments accountable. We oppose bombing campaigns that result in large numbers of civilian casualties. We coordinate aid to help those who are suffering. Our close partnership with Israel makes it even more urgent to act in Gaza.
So far, the administration has emphasized two strategies on this issue. One is to encourage Israel to significantly increase its aid delivery, and the other is to pursue a diplomatic strategy that ends in a moratorium on fighting that would halt the bombing and provide an opportunity for an infusion of aid. These strategies minimize conflict with the Netanyahu government and avoid the complexity and responsibility of coordinating direct aid. However, these strategies failed. Palestinians cannot wait any longer and our country needs to act now.
The U.S. role in this operation would be to deliver medical aid by air directly to hospitals and provide food, water, and supplies on land. From there, humanitarian organizations must take over the role of distributing and utilizing supplies. In this violent conflict, the presence of US troops and military personnel on the ground in the Gaza Strip invites direct involvement in the conflict. We must not make that mistake.
We should immediately launch a “Gaza relief operation.” This allows him to address four major needs:
First, we will provide desperately needed medicines and medical equipment. The 11 remaining partially functioning hospitals in Gaza are unable to provide the necessary care to thousands of Palestinians with life-threatening injuries. Children have experienced amputations and mothers have had C-sections without anesthesia. The United States should mobilize and support airlift to provide these hospitals with supplies, including basic medicines from antibiotics to insulin. Consideration should also be given to deploying two Navy hospital ships, each capable of accommodating 1,000 beds, to the eastern Mediterranean, as well as coordinating support from hospital ships operated by other countries and the nonprofit organization Mercy Ships. It is. The United States should also work with Israel to coordinate the transportation of seriously injured Palestinians to hospitals in the area and establish fire-free zones for field hospitals.
Second, impending starvation must be stopped by immediate delivery of food ashore. After months of grossly inadequate births, extreme hunger is widespread. Nine out of ten Palestinians survive on less than one meal a day. Feeding many people will also require deliveries of fuel to restart bakeries and stoves.
Third, address severe water shortages. Contaminated water is already spreading disease. Cholera and other diseases can spread rapidly and have devastating effects. Two of the three lines that previously supplied Gaza with clean water from Israel have been out of service for several weeks. Israel should be forced to restore them and put them into operation. The United States should also ensure it has the fuel needed to operate coastal desalination plants and leverage assets from sea to land to deliver water and water purification equipment.
Fourth, provide a safe haven. Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly led Palestinians to areas that have since been subjected to military attacks. The military operation in Rafah that Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened will result in large-scale and unacceptable further evacuations. The Gaza Relief Operation will need to work with Israel and the United Nations to ensure that the area remains a safe zone and facilitate support for aid organizations to set up and set up emergency shelters in the area.
To improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the United States will continue to push for a ceasefire in conjunction with hostage releases, advocate for more targeted efforts against Hamas that prioritize avoiding harm to civilians, and provide more aid to Israel. should be encouraged.
However, given the dire situation, these efforts alone are not enough. Gaza relief operations are essential. Our values require action. There’s no time to waste.