I do seem to remember that our president said there would be a ceasefire by today. No?
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians began fasting for Ramadan on Monday as the Muslim holy month arrived with cease-fire talks at a standstill, hunger worsening across the Gaza Strip and no end in sight to the five-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.
[…]
Hamas is demanding guarantees that any such agreement will lead to an end to the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until “total victory” against the militant group and the release of all the remaining hostages.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding around 100 captives and the remains of 30 others following an exchange last year.
[…]
The United States and other countries have begun airdropping aid in recent days, but humanitarian groups say such efforts are costly and insufficient. The U.S. military has also begun transporting equipment to build a sea bridge to deliver aid, but it will likely be several weeks before it is operational.
A ship belonging to Spanish aid group Open Arms carrying 200 tons of food aid was expected to make a pilot voyage to Gaza from nearby Cyprus, though it was not clear when it would depart. Israel says it welcomes the sea deliveries and will inspect Gaza-bound cargo before it leaves Cyprus.
The ship in Cyprus is expected to take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location in Gaza. The food is being supplied by the World Central Kitchen, a U.S. charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, which said contruction work on a jetty in Gaza began Sunday. Once the ship reaches Gaza, aid will be offloaded by a crane, placed on trucks and driven north.
And do you notice that, once again, it is the Americans and the Europeans extending their money and their hearts with humanitarian aid? Where are the lorries and air drops full of aid from Egypt? Saudi? UAE? Iraq? JORDAN!? Syria? Lebanon? Libya? Algeria? Pakistan? Qatar? Kuwait? Turkey? Indonesia?
Are all of those countries willing to watch their Palestinian brothers die for the cause? Yes. Yes, they are.
>And do you notice that, once again, it is the Americans and the Europeans extending their money and their hearts with humanitarian aid?
That is the part that disgusts me so much, every time. The most judgmental closeminded people outside the US blame the US for everything, and the liberal people that pour out the most hate and blame within the US, continually blame the ‘stingy conservatives’ who prove faithfully every year that they are the ones giving significantly more to charitable causes per capita than the self-righteous left.
So, if they are fasting why are we dropping MREs on their heads?
What are the odds the relief ship even makes it to Gaza? And if a civilian cargo ship does arrive safely what prevents Hamas from simply stealing the cargo? Israeli troops would have to take possession at the wharf and assume responsibility for distribution. That puts them in one giant fucking kill box. The Israelis have got to be livid with Obama 3.0.
>The Israelis have got to be livid with Obama 3.0.
The relief is for the people pseudo represented by Hamas, isn’t it? Why would Israel be responsible for it? Screw the kill box, let Hamas steal it from its own ‘supporters’.
You may notice that I do not have a deep well of sympathy for the aggressors in this war and by association the people currently being displaced. Does the Arab world care about them, their own people? Why would I care more?
Oh, it gets even worse.
3.0 is planning on having the US Army build a floating dock and a separate causeway to the beach. Aid ships will offload to the floating dock. The US Army will then ferry cargo by water to the causeway. Then US Army personnel will transport the relief supplies to the beach. Best guesstimate from the Army is at least 60 days to become operational. No mention whatsoever about who, if anyone, is responsible for providing construction overwatch or ongoing operational security.
3.0 swears no US boots on the ground, but good intentions don’t repel RPGs and Hamas/Iran gets at least 60 days to pre-plan a response. Like most 3.0 efforts this has clusterfark written all over it.
Boy, this humanitarian relief story just keeps on morphing for the worse.
Biden’s new Gaza humanitarian relief pier/port project is being conducted under the control of USAID (Samantha Power), who has secured funding and a management commitment from Qatar… who has turned to a Hamas infrastructure contractor for construction services and day-to-day operations… while the Israelis are being expected to provide security.
The Israelis are expected to successfully (and quickly) prosecute a war against Hamas…. while protecting a Qatari/Hamas commercial interest… while also protecting US Army participants… all while overcoming accusations of creating a hardened ongoing presence (occupation) of Gaza.
How much sillier can Obama 3.0 get before the Israelis no longer answer the phone?
Power, Monaco, Nuland, the trinity of witches……..
Two remain.
The Israelis are expected to successfully (and quickly) prosecute a war against Hamas
That expectation is self-imposed and a win is going to be near-impossible.
N. should have told 3.0 to shove his food-port where the sun never shines. That would be very good, as this is NOT the US’ ranch, nor its cattle.
Read a great assessment of the situation from J. Dyer this morning. Her vision is consistently about as good as it gets. Well worth reading.