March 2nd 2024.
During a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden announced that the United States will be providing much-needed aid to Palestinians by airdropping supplies. This decision comes after reports of over 100 Palestinian deaths due to Israeli forces opening fire on civilians trying to access aid from convoy trucks.
However, during his speech, President Biden mistakenly mentioned Ukraine instead of Gaza on two occasions, causing confusion among White House officials. The 81-year-old president, who is the oldest person to take office in US history, quickly corrected himself and clarified that the aid would be going to Gaza, not Ukraine.
This mix-up only adds to the growing concerns about President Biden's mental and physical health. Despite facing criticism for financially supporting the Israeli military, Biden emphasized the urgency of providing aid to Gaza, stating that the current efforts are not nearly enough to save innocent lives, particularly those of children.
Several countries, including Jordan, Egypt, France, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, have already conducted successful airdrops in Gaza. However, the United States had been hesitant to do so, citing concerns about the effectiveness and safety of this method.
But after Thursday's tragic incident, where at least 112 people were killed and 280 injured while trying to collect aid, President Biden approved the airdrops. Palestinian authorities and witnesses claim that Israeli soldiers opened fire on crowds as they were trying to access the aid, while Israeli military officials stated that most of the casualties were caused by a stampede.
The incident has also brought attention to the dire situation in Gaza, where over 30,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces since October. The United Nations reports that 500,000 people are facing starvation, and 2.3 million are experiencing acute food shortages. There have also been reports of children dying from a lack of food.
President Biden had previously expressed hope for a cease-fire deal by Monday, but after Thursday's events, he tempered his optimism. However, on Friday, he stated that he still holds hope for a deal to be reached, possibly before the start of the holy month of Ramadan on March 10. The White House, State Department, and Pentagon had been considering the idea of airdrops for months but had held off due to concerns about its effectiveness.
In the midst of this ongoing crisis, it is clear that immediate action is needed to provide aid to the people of Gaza. President Biden's decision to approve airdrops shows the US's commitment to helping those in need, despite the challenges and risks involved.
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