The Cyprus-led Amalthea humanitarian corridor and the US plan to construct a floating pier off Gaza demonstrate effective international cooperation, according to a bipartisan letter by American lawmakers, urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to protect the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in response to reports of an unvetted flotilla planning to depart from Turkey to Gaza.
“The Administration’s plan to construct a floating pier off Gaza and the ongoing Cyprus-led Amalthea humanitarian corridor demonstrate effective international cooperation. These measures are designed to ensure that duly-vetted aid reaches Palestinian civilians without benefiting Hamas”, 20 US Representatives led by Chris Pappas, Nicole Malliotakis, Dina Titus, Brad Schneider, and Grace Meng note in the letter.
They express significant concerns with the reported ‘Freedom Flotilla Coalition’ saying that ‘the flotilla, led in part by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) – which has close ties with the Turkish government
and has previously raised funds for Hamas – intends to bypass established aid channels and refuse to allow Israeli inspection of their cargo, casting doubt on the nature of the mission.’
They conclude by emphasizing concerns that the flotilla may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, inflame regional tensions, and undermine ongoing negotiations for a temporary ceasefire, reaffirming their support for Israel and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. “We oppose any actions, like the Turkish flotilla or Turkey’s imposition of export restrictions, that could impede effective aid delivery, escalate the conflict, or jeopardize negotiations between Israel and Hamas. We urge the Administration to continue to uphold these principles in response to these developments’, they add.
The Representatives urge Blinken to engage directly with Erdogan and the Turkish government to prevent or delay the flotilla’s departure and ensure that all shipments to Gaza are vetted and in compliance with in
ternational standards for humanitarian assistance.
The letter was supported by American Hellenic Institute (AHI), American Jewish Committee (AJC), FDD Action, and Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC).
Source: Cyprus News Agency