Senior American officials revealed on Tuesday that the United States is asking Israel to pay greater attention to protecting civilians and limiting damage to infrastructure if it launches an attack in southern Gaza to avoid further displacement that will be difficult for humanitarian efforts to confront.

With Israel beginning to look to the south to continue the war on Hamas after the fighting stopped to release hostages, American officials said they were talking with the Israelis about paying more attention to the south, where there are now about two million people, according to Reuters.

"Cannot be repeated"

They also explained to reporters in a telephone conference that the message was conveyed by the American side at several levels, starting with President Joe Biden.

One of the officials also added: “We stressed this in very clear language with the government of Israel... It is very important that the implementation of the Israeli campaign, when it moves to the south, ensure by all means that it does not lead to other large population displacements.”

He added: “The scale of displacement that occurred in the north cannot be repeated in the south. It will be more than chaotic, and will exceed the capacity of any humanitarian support network... That cannot happen.”

He also stressed that the campaign must avoid attacking infrastructure sites such as electricity and water stations, humanitarian sites and hospitals in southern and central Gaza, pointing out that the Israelis have accepted the idea of ​​“the necessity of carrying out a different type of campaign in the south.”

Extension of the truce and aid

As for extending the humanitarian truce, a second American official said that Washington wants this for as long as possible.

He added that the first of three American military planes carrying relief materials landed in North Sinai, Egypt, on Tuesday, carrying badly needed supplies in Gaza, and the other two planes are scheduled to land in the coming days.

The officials also explained that 240 trucks deliver aid to Gaza daily, but this is not enough to meet the needs there. They added that there is a need to convert to commercial contracts to bring in up to 400 trucks per day, and the American side is discussing this matter with Israel.

Increase inspection procedures

In turn, one of the officials said, “To provide these quantities of aid, there will be a need to increase and tighten inspection procedures, and commercial contracts from within Gaza to receive trucks coming from Egypt,” adding: “We hope that after the end of this truce, there will be a second phase.” From the humanitarian programme

The planes will transport medical supplies, food aid, and winter supplies that will be delivered by the United Nations.

Huge numbers of survivors were displaced

It is noteworthy that the Israeli attack in northern Gaza was devastating and resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and the displacement of huge numbers of survivors who were forced by a relentless bombing campaign and the lack of basic materials such as food, water and electricity to flee to the south of the Strip.

On Monday, Qatar announced that the first truce, which lasted 4 days, had been extended for another two days, after seven weeks of war that claimed the lives of thousands and destroyed the Strip.

“A glimmer of hope”...but

For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday described the extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas as “a ray of hope and humanity.”

However, he said that time is not enough to meet the Gaza Strip's aid needs.