At the request of the US, Israel has agreed to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza, a senior US official told Reuters on Thursday. The crossing would be open for only the screening and inspection of the humanitarian aid being delivered into Gaza via the Rafah crossing, on its border with Egypt. Washington has been discussing with the Israelis for weeks the possible opening of Kerem Shalom to speed up the inspection process of the aid trucks, according to Reuters . The US official did not give a time frame on when the crossing would open. The report comes after a conversation on Thursday between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During that conversation, the White House said, Biden “underscored the importance of the continuous and sustained flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He welcomed the recent Israeli decision to ensure that fuel levels will meet requisite needs, but stressed that much more assistance was urgently required across the board.” “The President emphasized the critical need to protect civilians and to separate the civilian population from Hamas including through corridors that allow people to move safely from defined areas of hostilities,” the statement continued. Following pressure by the US, the Political-Security Cabinet on Wednesday evening approved an increase in the supply of fuel entering the Gaza Strip. Most of the ministers supported the decision. Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir objected and voted against. Israel to this point had allowed about 60,000 liters of fuel to enter Gaza every day for humanitarian needs. The US administration demanded that a daily amount three times higher, 180 thousand liters, be permitted to enter the Strip. Related articles: Terrorists launch mortar shells near Humanitarian Corridor UNRWA stops bringing aid through Kerem Shalom after more theft President Herzog visits Kerem Shalom Crossing IDF facilitates passage of patients from Gaza to Egypt and abroad The Mothers of the Soldiers headquarters, which unites hundreds of mothers who sons are fighting in Gaza, on Thursday morning called on the Cabinet to rethink the decision. "More fuel to Gaza means more air for the terrorists, more fuel, and more time fighting Hamas. The government of Israel must do everything in order to defeat Hamas and ensure the safety of our sons on the battlefield," they said.
