U.S. says Israel to open new Gaza crossing as aid deadline looms

Israel has reportedly notified the United States that following the reopening of the Erez crossing, they are aiming to open another new crossing at Kissufim within the upcoming days.

Israel has informed the United States that it will open an additional crossing for aid into Gaza, the U.S. State Department said Thursday (November 8, 2024), as a U.S.-imposed deadline looms next week.

They made the demands in a letter before Trump’s election, promising greater support from Israel.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel plans to open a new crossing at Kissufim soon. Mr. Miller said the U.S. has pressed Israel, noting recent steps taken since the election.

“We have continued to press them, and we have seen them, including in the past few days since the election, take additional steps,” Mr. Miller told reporters.

He stopped short of saying how the United States would assess Israel’s compliance with the aid demands.

In the letter, Blinken and Austin urged Israel to open five crossings for aid.

Kissufim, near a kibbutz attacked in the October 2023 Hamas assault, has mostly remained unused since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, except by the military.

The letter called for Israel to allow at least 350 trucks per day into Gaza. Miller said 229 trucks entered on Tuesday.

President Biden has urged Israel to improve humanitarian aid and protect civilians, without using leverage like cutting weapons.

Mr. Miller said Blinken aims to use his term to push for ending the wars in Gaza and Lebanon with the help of Israel.

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