From the Liveblog of
Friday, November 24, 2023
Biden: ‘Hamas doesn’t give a damn’ about Palestinians; we’ll prevent it from diverting aid
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Joe Biden says the humanitarian pause he’s been calling for — and which went into effect today — serves two purposes: Accelerating aid into Gaza and facilitating the release of the hostages.
Biden in his remarks to the press highlights the three American citizens who are slated for release, including four-year-old Avigail Idan, whose parents were murdered on October 7 by Hamas terrorists.
Asked whether he knows when exactly the dual US-Israeli nationals will be released, Biden responds that he does not.
“We will not stop until we get these hostages brought home and an answer to their whereabouts,” Biden says.
Turning to the issue of aid, Biden says that the truce “brings a critical opportunity to deliver much needed food, medicine, water and fuel to the civilians in Gaza, and we are not wasting one single minute.
“We put in place mechanisms to prevent Hamas from diverting these supplies and we’re continuing that effort to make sure aid gets to the people who need it,” he says.
More than 200 trucks arrived outside at the Rafah Crossing today, with some carrying fuel “not only to power the trucks delivering these life saving supplies but also for desalinization, for water wells, for hospitals and for bakeries,” Biden says.
“Hundreds of more trucks are getting in position as well, ready to enter Gaza over the coming days to support the innocent Palestinians who are suffering greatly because of this war that Hamas has unleashed.”
“Hamas doesn’t give a damn about them,” Biden says plainly.
