The plan for a brief ceasefire on Monday, October 16, in southern Gaza, to allow foreigners leave the Palestinian enclave and aid be brought in has failed as the bombardments from Israel intensifies.
An effort to get aid into the enclave has failed after relentless bombing since the attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, that left 1,300 people dead, making that day the worst in the state’s 75-year history.
The authorities in Gaza has confirmed that the Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 2,750 fatalities, with nearly 10,000 injuries, and 25 percent of deaths being children. Additionally, 1,000 persons were reported missing and thought to be buried under debris.
The Egyptian security has said that an agreement had been reached to open the crossing to allow aid into the enclave.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement “There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out.”
Egypt added that the crossing remained open from the its side in recent days, but has been rendered inoperable due to the bombardments on the Palestinian side.
Meanwhile, the United States has told its citizens in Gaza to get close to the crossing so they could be brought out. The estimated number of dual-citizens, Palestinian-Americans in Gaza are about 500 to 600.
However, President Joe Biden, had emphasized on the urgent need to get aid to Palestinian civilians, on Saturday, October 15, in the Whitehouse.
He urged Israel to follow the rules of war in its response to the Hamas attacks.
“The overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas’ appalling attacks and are suffering as a result of them,” he said.
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