International
Israel agrees to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza after a call between Biden and Netanyahu
Israel will take “immediate measures” to increase the amount of humanitarian aid that allows entry into the Gaza Strip, after US President Joe Biden urged to improve the humanitarian situation in the enclave in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This increase in assistance will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is essential to guarantee the continuation of fighting and achieve the objectives of the war,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office about the decisions taken by the war cabinet at its meeting last night.
In this way, Israel will allow the temporary provision of aid through the port of Ashdod, in southern Israel, as well as through the Erez crossing, which directly accesses the north of the Strip, in addition to increasing the flow of aid from Jordan that enters through the Kerem Shalom crossing, in the south.
The Erez crossing will open for the first time since the beginning of the war, a recurring request from humanitarian agencies and the international community because it allows the entry of food and aid directly to the north of the enclave, where the situation is more serious.
There it is estimated that about 300,000 live in a situation of famine, for which 34 people have already died, 31 of them children.
Biden and Netanyahu had a telephone conversation last night, in which the US president warned that U.S. support for Israel could change if he did not take “concrete” actions to minimize the damage to civilians and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, after a convoy of the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK) was attacked on Monday up to three times killing seven of its employees.
The United States welcomed the measure and asked for it to be implemented “totally and quickly,” according to a statement from the White House.
From Brussels, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, celebrated Israel’s decision this Friday, but demanded concrete “results” in the “next few days and weeks.”
“They are steps in the right direction, but the real test is the results and this is what we hope to see in the coming days and in the coming weeks,” Blinken told the press in the community capital.
During the month of March, an average of 159 trucks per day entered Gaza with food and basic necessities, which is an upturn compared to previous months.
However, that figure is still low compared to the half-thourd that did it before the war, according to the United Nations.
So far, Israel has only allowed the entry of aid through the two of the seven crosses to the enclave: that of Rafah, between Egypt and Gaza; and Kerem Shalom, in its territory that connects with the southern Strip.
Israeli soldiers subject the convoys to exhaustive controls that slow down the process, in addition to the difficulties in reaching the north, in the face of the widespread destruction of the enclave’s roads.
Central America
U.S. and Regional Allies Back Panama Amid Dispute With China
The United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty, arguing that China’s recent actions represent an attempt to politicize maritime trade and undermine the sovereignty of nations in the hemisphere.
“We are closely monitoring China’s selective economic pressure and recent actions affecting vessels flying the Panamanian flag,” the statement released Tuesday said. “Panama is a pillar of our maritime trading system and, as such, must remain free from undue external pressure.”
The statement comes amid growing tensions surrounding the Panama Canal and the operation of key ports linked to global trade.
At the end of January, Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated the legal framework supporting the 1997 concession that granted Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, the right to operate the Balboa and Cristóbal terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of the Panama Canal.
The ruling followed mounting pressure from the United States to curb Chinese influence around the strategic waterway, through which roughly 5% of global maritime trade passes.
CK Hutchison, which managed the ports for nearly three decades, rejected the court’s decision and accused Panamanian authorities of illegally confiscating its assets. The company has launched international arbitration proceedings against Panama, seeking more than $2 billion in damages.
Following the court ruling, reports emerged of increased detentions and inspections of Panamanian-flagged vessels in China, actions widely viewed as retaliatory measures.
On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the joint statement as “completely unfounded and misleading,” accusing the United States of politicizing port operations and warning that Beijing would take steps to protect its interests in Panama.
International
King Charles III Says U.S.-UK Alliance Is “Irreplaceable and Unbreakable”
King Charles III of the United Kingdom reaffirmed the strength of the British-American relationship on Tuesday during a speech before the United States Congress, describing the alliance between the two nations as “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The address, delivered at the Capitol, marked the first speech by a British monarch before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and comes at a time of political tensions between Donald Trump’s administration and the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is invaluable and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” the king said.
While reflecting on the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, which will be commemorated this year, Charles III stated that the partnership between the two countries “was born out of disagreement, but is no less strong because of it.”
The monarch emphasized the democratic values shared by both nations and noted that major global changes have occurred whenever the two allies found common ground.
“When we have found that way to agree, great changes have taken place not only for the benefit of our peoples, but for all peoples,” he said.
King Charles also quoted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recently described the relationship as “an indispensable alliance.”
Concluding his speech, the monarch described the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom as “a story of reconciliation, renewal, and an extraordinary partnership.”
He added that Washington and London have forged “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance continues to defend our shared values, together with our partners in Europe, the Commonwealth, and around the world, and that we ignore calls urging us to become increasingly isolationist,” Charles III stated.
The king ended by urging both nations to “recommit to one another in selfless service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”
International
Trump Administration Considers Denying Green Cards Over Political Views
The administration of President Donald Trump is evaluating new immigration guidelines that could deny permanent residency to immigrants based on their political views, according to a report published by The New York Times.
The proposed measures, outlined in internal Department of Homeland Security documents, would instruct immigration officials to take applicants’ public expressions and ideological positions into account when reviewing green card applications.
According to the report, cases involving “possible anti-American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideologies” would need to be referred to higher authorities for additional review.
Even if applicants have not violated any laws, authorities could still reject residency requests if they determine that individuals have “endorsed, promoted, or supported anti-American views.”
Among the factors listed in the guidelines are participation in pro-Palestinian activities, actions considered antisemitic, and the burning of the U.S. flag.
The documents reportedly describe such actions as “heavily negative” factors in immigration evaluations, potentially blocking applicants from obtaining permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
The directives also place particular attention on demonstrations held on university campuses following the 2023 Hamas attacks against Israel.
However, flag burning has previously been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court as a form of protected free speech under the Constitution.
The proposal has sparked criticism from immigrant advocacy organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition.
Its president, Murad Awawdeh, warned that the policies could pose a threat to fundamental rights and freedoms.
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