A statement by the G7 Foreign Ministers which has thus far not been reported by a single U.S. outlet, says:

[The foreign ministers including U.S. Secretary of State Blinken] called for urgent action to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly the plight of 1.5 million civilians sheltering in Rafah and they expressed deep concern for the potentially devastating consequences on the civilian population of Israel’s further full scale military operation in that area. They underscored that securing full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms to the Gaza Strip remains an absolute priority and that all parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel, shelter, telecommunications, and access for humanitarian workers. They underlined the need to establish effective systems for the safety of aid convoys and humanitarian locations and to enable more UN staff, vehicles and equipment to enter and safely distribute aid, as more supply lines are urgently needed and the flow of humanitarian assistance in Gaza must be increased significantly. They were concerned by the risk of forcible displacement of Palestinian civilians out of Gaza.

The G7 members recognized the crucial role played by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors. They expected that UNRWA provides full transparency on the serious allegations against its staff and takes immediate action. They expected timely results of the announced investigations by the UN.

Five of the G7 have suspended funding to UNRWA and yet they have offered no indication if or when they will restore funding despite claiming that “unimpeded humanitarian support” “remains an absolute priority.”

Reuters reports:

The Biden administration is preparing to send bombs and other weapons to Israel that would add to its military arsenal even as the U.S. pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing current and former U.S. officials.

The proposed arms delivery includes MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions that add precision guidance to bombs, and FMU-139 bomb fuses, the Journal reported, adding that the value of is estimated to be “tens of millions of dollars.”

The proposed delivery is still being internally reviewed by the administration, the report added, citing a U.S. official, who said the details of the proposal could change before the administration notifies congressional committee leaders who would need to approve the transfer. [Continue reading…]