2024-03-16 21:19:19
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, visiting Jordan, urged Israel to open more entry points to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. He then traveled to Qatar, where he was briefed on ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
The deafening roar planes loaded with humanitarian aid never seems to stop at the Zarqa military base in Jordan. The large aircraft, German and Jordanian C130s, take off in turn to drop their precious cargo on Gaza, where there is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The Palestinian city is besieged by the Israeli army since the massacre committed by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7.
“We are among the best in the world for this type of operation, carried out here in a war zone.”
For two weeks, the Belgian army has been participating in airdrop of urgent humanitarian aid to Gazawith France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Jordan.
This Saturday, the A400M of the 15th Wing of Melsbroek is immobilized on the aerodrome tarmac. Belgian soldiers receive the visit of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld). Belgian expertise in airdropping humanitarian aid is highly appreciated.
“We are among the best in the world for this type of operation, carried out here in a war zone,” said Alexander De Croo, after reviewing the Belgian troops. “The airdrop is the best thing for now, but This is not a viable long-term solution.. It is necessary at all costs open new entry points for land-based humanitarian aid“, he continues.
183 tonnes dropped
Since its arrival, the Belgian plane has carried out nine airdrop operations on Gaza. “Everything went well. All the parachutes opened and they landed safely,” said Sam, a lieutenant in the 15th Wing and pilot of the A400M. “We dropped 215 packages in total, 183 tonnes of food and medical equipment.” This represents a quarter of the coalition’s airdrops.
Milk, water, dates, prepared meals, baby powder… The packages contain emergency aid for the population of Gaza. “Cameras are embedded in the packages to check that all the aid has arrived“, specifies a spokesperson for the Belgian army.
“There’s always a risk.”
The operation is coordinated by Jordan, which is responsible for warning the belligerents of the arrival of help in order to avoid any accidental shooting. “There is always a risk,” says Sam, who confirms the presence of countermeasure systems on board, decoys intended to deflect a possible missile fired at the plane. Held in secret, he will not say more about the circumstances and what he saw while flying over Gaza.
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The drop operations take place from Jordan and not from Egypt, although it is closer to Gaza, due to “the kingdom’s very good relations with the West and the desire of King Abdullah II to make aid to the Palestinians a priority“, confides a Belgian source. Around 80% of the Jordanian population is of Palestinian origin.
More entry points
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo arrived in Amman at midnight on Friday. Breaking up as a young man, there was excitement in the Jordanian capital. After a short night he met the UN coordinator for humanitarian aid and reconstruction for Gaza, the Dutch Sigrid Kaag.
“Volume, volume, volume,” insisted Sigrid Kaag during a press conference about humanitarian aid. “One in three children in Gaza is in a situation of extreme malnutrition,” she denounced.
“There is no other solution than to deliver aid by land.”
For Sigrid Kaag, airdrop operations are only a temporary solution. “Airdrops are not an alternative,” she said, “there is no other solution than to deliver aid by land.”
Alexander De Croo shares this position. “We ask for more humanity in relation to a population which finds itself in an unacceptable situation and which we rarely see in the world. Respect for humanitarian law is not an option,” said the Belgian Prime Minister. “It is up to Israel to prove that it is not using famine as a weapon of war,” he added.
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UNRWA in turmoil
The Prime Minister also met, in Amman, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UNRWAthe UN agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees.
“I expect there will be further charges.”
De Croo confirmed to Italian-Swiss that Belgium will maintain its support for UNRWA, while being attentive to the ongoing investigation into the Israeli government’s accusations against the participation of twelve members of the agency in the pogrom perpetrated by Hamas October 7.
During this massacre, 1,200 Israelis and foreigners killed, while 250 people kidnapped in Gaza. Since then, more than 30,000 Gazanscivilians and combatants, lost their lives, according to Hamas, during Israeli bombings.
“The organization has been under pressure since these accusations,” admitted Philippe Lazzarini. The suspects’ contracts were terminated, the UN launched an investigation and commissioned a review of the operating rules of UNRWA under the supervision of the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna.
Lazzarini assures that UNRWA “monitors” the behavior of its 30,000 members, most of them Palestinians. “There is no zero risk“, he admitted, “but if I become aware of reprehensible acts committed by a member of the staff, we investigate and we sanction”.
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The Commissioner General denounces “a political agenda to dismantle UNRWA”. “I expect there will be new accusations,” he said, referring to those reported in the media on the alleged affiliation of 250 members of the agency to the terrorist group Hamas.
A “dramatic” situation
“Famine has been raging for 4 to 5 months in a region that has never experienced this. Much more aid is needed and uninterrupted.”
Philippe Lazzarini described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “dramatic”. “I describe it as being the situation of all superlatives. Famine has been raging for 4 to 5 months in a region which has never experienced this. Much more aid is needed and in an uninterrupted manner,” he pleaded.
For him, UNRWA remains “the only organization capable of taking care of Palestinian refugees until this task is transferred to a Palestinian authority.”
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas
“Qatar expects Belgium to continue its efforts.”
Alexander De Croo traveled to Qatar on Saturday evening, for the second part of his tour in Arab countries. The Prime Minister inquired with the Qatari authorities ongoing negotiations in Doha between Israel and Hamaswith the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, to try to achieve a ceasefire and the release of the 130 hostages.
Hurry up. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu validated an offensive plan in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, where there are more than a million refugees. Hamas recently reduced its demands, proposing a six-week truce and the exchange of around thirty hostages for 40 to 50 Palestinian prisoners.
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The talks have made some progress in recent hours. Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha this weekend to negotiate directly. But hopes have often been dashed in recent weeks.
“We have been informed of the latest elements of the negotiations. I cannot say more. It’s not optimism, but there are proposals on the table“, a confié Alexander De Croo after his meeting with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
“Qatar expects Belgium to continue its efforts, that is to say to pull European countries in one direction,” he added, referring to the consensus between 26 EU states around the call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages obtained in February by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib (MR).
At no time was there any question of sanctions against Israel. “I have not heard the word sanction against Israel, neither in Qatar, nor in Jordan,” summarized the Prime Minister.
De Croo also announced that Belgium will take its part in the maritime humanitarian corridor opened from Cyprus to Gaza, in addition to the drops. “Discussions must take place on Monday, Belgium will participate in the maritime corridor,” he said.
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