During a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli leaders stated that their policy does not involve isolating northern Gaza, despite ongoing reports of blocked humanitarian aid.
The United Nations has been attempting to deliver essential supplies such as medicine, food, fuel, and water to Gaza, but its requests continue to be denied. U.N. deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq expressed concern about these denials, noting the urgent need for aid, especially for hospitals and water facilities.
Blinken’s discussions with Israeli officials heavily focused on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been a key U.S. concern. Israel acknowledged these concerns, and Blinken referenced a letter he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent earlier this month.
The letter gave Israel a 30-day period to significantly improve aid delivery to Gaza, warning that failure to do so could lead to limitations on U.S. military assistance, as required by U.S. law.
Israeli Leaders Assure U.S. Aid Delivery to Gaza Will Improve Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
During the meeting, Israeli officials presented the actions they had taken in response to the U.S. letter, but Blinken made it clear that these efforts were insufficient.
While some initial progress was noted, Blinken stressed that more needed to be done, with the expectation that Israel would take further action within the 30-day timeframe. The U.S. government expects continuous improvement in the delivery of aid to Gaza’s population.
On Monday, 114 trucks were allowed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Erez West crossings, according to the State Department. However, there was no immediate confirmation on how much of the aid reached the people in need. While this was seen as a positive step, U.S. officials underscored the necessity for more consistent and effective aid distribution moving forward.
Despite reassurances from Israel that it is committed to fulfilling the Biden administration’s demands, the official readout from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made no reference to humanitarian aid. This omission raised questions about the degree to which Israel plans to prioritize the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and whether it will meet the commitments outlined by the U.S. within the 30-day period.
