The Biden administration issued a stern letter to Israeli leaders, urging them to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza within 30 days or face potential disruptions in U.S. military aid.
The letter, signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, highlights the critical role U.S. support plays in Israel’s ongoing military operations, which have drawn increasing concern over the situation in Gaza. The U.S. is pressuring Israel to comply with humanitarian commitments, given the dire conditions for Palestinians.
Recent events in Gaza have worsened the humanitarian outlook. Israel had closed its borders, cutting off essential supplies to 400,000 Palestinians before allowing some aid deliveries to resume.
Under U.S. law, countries receiving military assistance during conflict must facilitate the transfer of U.S.-backed humanitarian aid. Israel had promised to abide by this requirement, but the Biden administration’s letter indicates that Washington is dissatisfied with Israel’s current handling of the crisis.
The U.S. is particularly alarmed by the deteriorating situation in northern Gaza, where Israeli military actions halted aid for two weeks. U.S. officials fear this could be part of a larger Israeli strategy to lay siege to the area and starve Hamas militants.
Biden Administration Pressures Israel to Address Gaza Humanitarian Crisis with Aid Threat
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant denied these allegations, but the letter arrives as the humanitarian crisis is expected to intensify during the upcoming winter season, increasing U.S. pressure on Israel to act quickly.
Blinken and Austin’s letter outlines several concerns about Israeli actions that are hindering humanitarian efforts. They noted that evacuation orders by the Israeli Defense Forces have forced 1.7 million Palestinians into a dangerously overcrowded area along the Gaza coast.
Furthermore, aid paid for by the U.S. is reportedly being blocked at border crossings, exacerbating conditions for civilians. U.S. officials stressed the urgency of reversing these trends to prevent further escalation of the humanitarian disaster.
The U.S. made specific demands of Israel, including allowing the permanent transfer of 350 aid trucks daily through all available border crossings and implementing humanitarian pauses for at least the next four months.
They also requested that Israel end its isolation of northern Gaza and not force the evacuation of Palestinians from the north to the south. These measures are seen as essential to meeting U.S. humanitarian requirements under relevant laws and policies.
In addition to immediate humanitarian concerns, the letter addresses broader political issues, including a proposed bill in the Israeli Knesset to sever ties with UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees.
The Biden administration warned that passing this bill would severely undermine humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The letter also calls for Israel to grant the Red Cross access to Palestinian detainees and establish a new mechanism to review civilian casualties during Israeli military operations, further underscoring the U.S. push for accountability in the conflict.
