“The people of the Gaza Strip urgently need the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid without hindrance,” it said.
“There must be no further delay.”
03:05
World reactions to the air strikes that killed the Hamas leader in Iran and the Hezbollah commander in Beirut
World reactions to the air strikes that killed the Hamas leader in Iran and the Hezbollah commander in Beirut
“We need to be prepared for a number of potentially significant attacks,” John Kirby told reporters, adding that Washington shared Israel’s assessment that an attack “could take place this week.”
Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said they were monitoring developments in Iran, but the military had not changed its precautions toward the public.
“We are following what is happening with Iran in particular with all our means. And we are not following the situation alone. We are following it together with the United States and other partners,” Hagari said.
Hagari said the military would inform the home front of any changes as soon as possible, if necessary.
“Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States and we look forward to expanding that partnership,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
Biden took office in 2021 with a promise to take a new approach to Saudi Arabia that prioritizes human rights, and immediately announced that the administration would only supply “defensive” weapons to the longtime U.S. arms customer.
Meanwhile, international mediators have urged Israel and Hamas to resume talks after deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip and the killing of Iranian-aligned militant leaders sparked fears of a wider conflict.
Israel has accepted an invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators to talks scheduled for Thursday.
Hamas said on Sunday that it wanted to implement the three-phase plan approved by the UN Security Council “instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “welcomes the mediation efforts … and calls on both sides to resume negotiations and conclude a ceasefire and hostage release agreement,” said his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.
Last week, Hamas appointed its Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar to succeed political leader and ceasefire negotiator Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on July 31 in an attack blamed on Israel, which has so far not claimed responsibility for the attack.
02:28
Chinese-Israeli woman among four hostages rescued from Gaza
Chinese-Israeli woman among four hostages rescued from Gaza
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that defenses had been strengthened and “attack options” had been organized because “threats from Tehran and Beirut could emerge.”
Pressure for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip increased after rescue workers in the Hamas-controlled area said an Israeli airstrike on Saturday killed 93 people at a school housing displaced Palestinians.
Guterres condemned “yet another devastating attack by Israel” on the Al-Tabieen school in Gaza City, “which left dozens dead and comes amid ongoing horror, displacement and suffering,” Haq said.
Israel said it attacked the militants operating from the school and mosque complex with “precise munitions.” The army released the names of 31 people who were killed in the attack and who were allegedly among the militants.
Gaza officials told Agence France-Presse on Monday that they had identified the bodies of 75 of those killed, while others were charred and mangled.
Additional reporting from Reuters
