Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs Barbara A.

Leaf also mentioned ongoing efforts to prevent Iran and its proxies from escalating conflicts in the Middle East, including Iraq, Lebanon, Europe, and Yemen.

The Biden administration remains committed to securing peace between Israel and the Palestinians through direct negotiations and providing aid to the population of Gaza via the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

Leaf also mentioned the investigation into the recent discovery of mass graves in Gaza.

The text discusses the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where the entire population is at risk of famine and malnutrition.

Officials are making inquiries about the situation and pushing for the acceleration of aid delivery through air, land, and sea.

They urge Israel to improve deconfliction coordination to allow for more aid entry and distribution.

The UN and UNRWA are believed to be essential for this effort.

The US is committed to advancing peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, including through practical steps towards establishing a Palestinian state next to Israel.

The UNRWA chief, Leaf, refused to discuss the allocation of funds for humanitarian needs in Gaza regarding the suspended UNRWA funding due to allegations of 12 workers' involvement in Hamas attacks on Israel.

A recent report found no evidence to support Israeli claims.

Some countries have resumed funding, but the US has not, as Congress has prohibited US assistance to UNRWA directly.

Other organizations and channels exist for US aid to the Palestinian people.

The Biden administration has defended its decision to veto a Security Council resolution recognizing Palestine as a full UN member state, stating that Palestine lacks identifiable borders.

Leaf, a representative of the administration, acknowledged UNRWA's indispensable functions and encouraged donor partners to support its work.

She reiterated the administration's support for a Palestinian state but emphasized the need for direct negotiations with Israel for peace.

The goal is to reunify the West Bank and Gaza Strip under a reformed Palestinian Authority, paving the way for a two-state solution through negotiations.

The text discusses the importance of reunifying the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority (PA) for delivering results and stability.

The PA's revitalization is crucial for the Palestinian people in both areas.

The speaker, Leaf, also condemned the escalating violent attacks by Iran and its proxies, specifically mentioning Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

She described Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea as "outrageous" and "inhuman," stating that they do not support the Palestinian cause.

The text is about the comments made by the US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, and the British Ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, regarding the recent escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel.

They expressed concern over Iran's actions, specifically its putting of innocent civilians in harm's way through its missile attacks on Israeli targets.

The text also mentions that Friedman condemned the Iranian strikes on Israel last week, but he did not mention the Israeli strikes that occurred beforehand and resulted in the deaths of 12 people at an Iranian consulate building in Damascus.