In a fast-moving situation in regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict, Joe Biden urges caution from Israel in its continued efforts to bombard Hamas forces in Gaza, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks following a visit to Israel earlier today, and Egypt’s Rafah crossing is slated to open for a limited quantity of aid to enter Gaza, in what stands as one of the only successes in the conflict so far.

Joe Biden Urges Caution

U.S. President Joe Biden has urged Israel to use caution and not to “be consumed with rage” in its response to the attack by Hamas. Speaking in Tel Aviv during his visit to Israel, Biden compared the attacks by Hamas to the events of 9/11, describing how the US had “sought and got justice” but had “made mistakes” in its response. Referencing the US War on Terror post-9/11 he said, “Don’t repeat the mistakes of 9/11”.

Biden subsequently vowed continued US support for Israel and its security needs, whilst remaining steadfast in American condemnation of Hamas’ role in the conflict.

During the visit to Israel, Biden also urged Israel not to launch a military campaign against Hezbollah, who have been engaged in tit-for-tat conflict with Israel since Hamas’ attack nearly two weeks ago. Sources close to the Biden administration have said that the US recognises Israel must respond to the increasing attacks from Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border, but both publicly and privately, the US has been urging Israel, as well as Hezbollah and Iran, to deescalate the situation before more widespread conflict becomes inevitable.

USA will not enter the war?

In response to Israel government sources that indicated that if an all-out war came about between Israel and Hezbollah, the US military would join the IDF in fighting the militant group, Joe Biden denied that the USA would enter a war with Hezbollah on Israel’s behalf.

Biden’s denial comes after Israel’s national security adviser said in a press conference Tuesday that Biden “made it clear to our enemies that if they think of joining the attack against Israel there will be American involvement and Israel will not be on its own.”

He stated quite clearly that the USA would not intervene if Hezbollah attacked Israel. John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesperson, followed this Biden remark up by stating obliquely that the US had “no intention” of putting boots on the ground, but that the US had national security interests that it felt needed to be protected. It would seem that any US decision to use force would be made according to the scope of a Hezbollah attack and Israel’s ability to respond.

Sunak arrives in Saudi Arabia

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in Saudi Arabia following meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and is now meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The UK urges restraint amidst growing fears of escalation. In his meeting with Netanyahu, Sunak had provided assurances to his Israeli counterpart that Britain is “proud” to stand with Israel and thanked Netanyahu and Israel’s government for its efforts in trying to secure the release of UK citizens being held hostage. At least nine British nationals have so far been killed in the conflict, with a further seven confirmed missing.

The British Prime Minister met with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and expressed his “solidarity with your people and your country after you have suffered something unspeakable, a barbaric act of terrorism…we should call it what it is – an act of terrorism perpetrated by an evil terrorist organization, Hamas”. He assured President Herzog that Britain, “Will stand with Israel. We will stand with you in solidarity, with your people, and your right to defend yourself, to bring security back to your country, to your people, to ensure the safe return of the hostages that have been taken. You do not just have a right to do that, you have a duty to do that, to restore that security to your country”, he said.

Sunak’s tour of the Middle East is part of a coordinated response with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is currently visiting Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next several days, in an attempt to deescalate the conflict. In an online statement he said that his “Goals are clear: Secure the release of British hostages. Stop the violence spreading to the region. Ensure emergency aid can get into Gaza”.

This follows the hosting of King Abdullah II of Jordan in Downing Street last weekend, in which the leaders discussed the ongoing conflict and Sunak reiterated the UK’s support for Israel.

Limited Opening of the Rafah Crossing

A token quantity of aid is being allowed to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing, Egypt and the US have confirmed. The crossing had been closed due to nearby air strikes. Egypt will still not reopen the border for refugees, given that Cairo had major concerns about being perceived as complicit in “ethnic cleansing” if Palestinian refugees started crossing into Egypt. Both Egypt’s President Sisi and the King of Jordan have emphasised strongly that they will not enable or in any way facilitate the depopulation of Gaza. Late Wednesday evening, a deal was struck allowing twenty aid trucks to enter Gaza in the coming days, urgently needed following Israel’s continued cutting of electricity, water, and medical supplies. The agreement to reopen the Rafah crossing to deliver a limited amount of aid was reached in ongoing talks between US President Joe Biden and Premier Netanyahu. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has agreed to this. However, the UN states that a minimum of 100 trucks of humanitarian assistance a day are necessary to support the 2.2 million residents of Gaza, with the World Food Programme’s representative Abeer Etefa describing the situation as becoming “very difficult”.

“Food and water supplies are running out. The bakeries – many of them have stopped functioning” she stated. This follows Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming that Israel would not block necessary aid being allowed into Gaza from Egypt, but Netanyahu and the United Nations alike have confirmed the continuation of this aid is contingent on Hamas being uninvolved in its distribution.

Further updates from the international community to be posted daily.

The image used above is from Hosny Saleh