By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has agreed to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, US President Joe Biden said Wednesday.
Addressing reporters on Air Force One during his return trip from Israel, Biden said that "Sisi deserves a lot of credit" for the agreement and said the Egyptian president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "stepped up" to facilitate the pending delivery.
"Israel has been badly victimized, but the truth is they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who have nowhere to go," Biden said. "It’s what they should do.”
“If Hamas confiscates them or doesn’t let it get through…then it’s going to end,” he added.
The president said he was "very blunt" about the need to get humanitarian aid into Gaza during his meetings with Netanyahu earlier Wednesday.
Gaza is already experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out.
Israel previously ordered a "full siege" on Gaza in retaliation for the initiation by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence against Palestinians.
Over 1,400 Israelis have been killed since the start of the operation.
At least 3,478 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza.