Weekend Quotables
Global protests demand ceasefire and let the aid trucks into Gaza.
MICHAEL KLONSKY
OCT 23
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant explained Israel had to back down and allow even a few truckloads of food and water across the border from Egypt and into Gaza.
“The Americans insisted and we are not in a place where we can refuse them. We rely on them for planes and military equipment. What are we supposed to do? Tell them no?”
Gallant’s unsolicited admission shows that the US is calling most of the shots in Israel’s war on Gaza. So the obvious question for Biden/Blinken is, why only a trickle of aid when Palestinian children and civilian families are dying from thirst, hunger, and lack of medicine?
Meanwhile…
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution Wednesday to condemn all violence against civilians in the Israel-Hamas war and to urge humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, saying it was too early to craft an appropriate Security Council response to the crisis.
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CAIRO, Oct 23 (Reuters) – A third convoy of aid trucks entered the Rafah crossing from Egypt on Monday bound for the besieged Gaza Strip, an aid worker and two security sources said. Humanitarian deliveries through Rafah began on Saturday after wrangling over procedures for inspecting the aid and bombardments on the Gaza side of the border had left relief materials stranded in Egypt.
Rafah is the main crossing in and out of Gaza that does not border Israel. Since Israel has imposed a “total siege” of the enclave in retaliation for an attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, Rafah has become the focus of efforts to deliver aid.
Weekend Quotables
Elie Mystal
I know a lot of people don’t want to hear this, but Biden’s “hug Bibi” strategy is hurting him with young voters of color, and that could cost him the American election. — @thenation:
Sec. of State Antony Blinken on Face the Nation
MARGARET BRENNAN: Turning the page to what has happened during the following two weeks, UNICEF says 1,524 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip during these bombings. Why isn’t the US calling for at least a temporary ceasefire?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, Margaret, when I hear the stories, when I see the pictures of young children, who have lost their lives in this conflict of Hamas’ making- whoever they are, wherever they are, whether they’re Palestinians, whether they’re Israelis, whether they’re- they’re Jews or Muslims. It hits me, and I know it hits virtually everyone right in the heart.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So why not ask for at least a temporary pause in the bombing as was proposed at the UN this week?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve seen first of all that, in order to get assistance. We’ve had, we’ve had that happen. And you saw the first 20 trucks go in yesterday, I expect more will follow today and the day after that. We want to make sure that we have sustained delivery of food, medicine, water, and the things that people need. At the same time, I said something a minute ago that- that we have to- we have to remember. Israel has to do everything it can to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Freezing things in place where they are now would allow Hamas to remain where it is and to repeat what it’s done some time in the future. — Video
Recently arrived, unnamed Palestinian woman speaking at Saturday’s Chicago protest march.
“Resistance is allowed when persons are occupied.” — CBS News Chicago
Rudy Giuliani
Rudy ‘splains it. Says Biden is an Iranian spy: “He’s on Iran’s side and he’s on Hamas’s side. He is not on our side. He’s got a bunch of spies in his Admin. This guy is working for Iran. Why? Maybe because they’ve infiltrated his Admin the way the communists infiltrated FDR’s Admin.” — Newsmax
Medea Benjamin @medeabenjamin
If 66 % of Americans say they want a ceasefire in Gaza, why are only 3 % of members of Congress calling for a ceasefire??? Represent us, the people, not your donors! Ceasefire now! — X
Bill Ayers 