Turkiye's Humanitarian Relief Foundation sets up tents for Palestinian families whose houses were destroyed, in Gaza City on Tuesday. DAWOUD ABO ALKAS/GETTY IMAGES
JERUSALEM — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the country's "steadfast support" for Israel, days into a fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and a large-scale raid in the occupied West Bank.
As Israel pursued its deadly operation in Jenin, Rubio assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Washington's continued backing.
Rubio spoke to Netanyahu from Washington on Wednesday night to "underscore that maintaining the United States' steadfast support for Israel is a top priority for President (Donald) Trump", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.
Washington will continue to work "tirelessly" to help free the remaining hostages in Gaza, Bruce added.
Israel and Hamas began implementing a three-stage cease-fire in their 15-month conflict on Sunday. The current six-week stage of the deal includes the release of Israeli captives from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli prisons, as well as intensified humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
An Israeli security delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to continue negotiations on the second phase of the truce deal, according to Egyptian sources.
The delegation includes officials from the intelligence agency Mossad and the Shin Bet security agency, the sources told Xinhua News Agency on condition of anonymity.
"The discussions focused on the execution of the second phase of the cease-fire agreement, including the reopening of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing to allow the passage of injured Palestinians," the sources added.
The talks also addressed the presence of Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, with Israel seeking a partial withdrawal while Egypt insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from the area, according to the sources.
More aid into Gaza
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday that it is stepping up support for people across Gaza, increasing the flow of incoming supplies and deliveries, and scaling up storage capacity, repair work, lifesaving services, and addressing needs. It is distributing food parcels and flour and working to reopen bakeries.
The agency said 808 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, citing information received from Israeli authorities and the guarantors of the cease-fire agreement — Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
"Humanitarian partners are carrying out rapid assessments in newly accessible areas to identify people's most urgent needs, including water, hygiene, sanitation and healthcare," it said. "They are also stepping up disease surveillance efforts."
As Rubio and Netanyahu spoke, Israel's West Bank operation, dubbed the Iron Wall, was pressing on.
The Israeli military said that it has "neutralized over 10 terrorists", while the Palestinian Health Ministry said the operation has killed 10 people and wounded 35 others.
"The situation is very difficult," Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP. "The occupation army has bulldozed all the roads leading to Jenin camp and the Jenin government hospital ... There is shooting and explosions."
Israeli forces have detained about 20 people from villages around Jenin since the operation began on Tuesday, he said.
The Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry accused Israel of "collective punishment" and stated that the raid was part of an Israeli plan aimed at "gradually annexing the occupied West Bank".
Netanyahu said the raid aimed to "eradicate terrorism" in Jenin.
The Israeli government has accused Iran of attempting to funnel weapons and funds to militants in the West Bank.
Agencies - Xinhua
