Bahrain's crown prince demands opening emergency aid corridors to Gaza

By Ibrahim Khazen and Gulsen Topcu

MANAMA, Bahrain (AA) - Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa highlighted the need Friday for an urgent aid corridor to allow medical and humanitarian aid, food, medicine, water and electricity into Gaza amid airstrikes by Israel.

The crown prince met US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who is on a Middle East tour to condemn the attacks in Israel and engage in efforts to help prevent the conflict from spreading, according to Bahrain’s news agency BNA.

The two men discussed relations between the two countries, regional and international developments and the latest situation in Gaza.

Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa highlighted the importance of providing humanitarian relief, food, water, electricity, medical aid and civilian protection in the Gaza Strip, BNA reported.

He emphasized the Kingdom's support for de-escalation and peace efforts to promote regional security and stability.

Blinken has already met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen as part of his tour. He then met Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The conflict began Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.