US Pressures Israel to Facilitate Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Threatens Military Assistance Cuts
The United States has issued a stern ultimatum to Israel, granting the government 30 days to eliminate the obstacles impeding the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Failure to comply could result in reduced military assistance, a message underscored by a letter from American Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration.
In their letter, US officials expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, highlighting a troubling statistic: in the previous month, almost 90 percent of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza were obstructed by Israeli authorities.
Despite these claims, the Israeli government has refuted allegations of blocking aid. Recently, Israeli officials announced the arrival of 30 trucks from the World Food Program into northern Gaza through the Erez crossing—an entry point linking Israeli territory with Gaza. This development followed a prolonged two-week blockade during which the United Nations issued alarms about the dwindling supplies necessary for the survival of 400,000 Palestinians in northern Gaza.
Moreover, the letter from US officials criticized Israeli evacuation orders that have compelled approximately 1.7 million individuals to seek refuge in already densely populated coastal areas. There, the risk of contagion is alarming due to overcrowding, and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly asserted that essential needs for survival remain unmet.
Blinken and Austin pointed to existing American legal standards that bar military aid to nations hindering US humanitarian assistance. John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman at the White House, reaffirmed this stance, stating that the US 'opposes almost daily attacks in densely populated areas' by Israeli forces.
Reports indicate that the Netanyahu government is taking the concerns expressed by the US seriously and plans to engage directly with American officials to resolve these issues.
It's essential to understand the scale of US military support for Israel. In 2016, under the Obama administration, a ten-year agreement was established to provide Israel with $38 billion annually for purchasing American military equipment. An analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that between 2019 and 2023, 69 percent of Israel's arms imports were sourced from the United States. Over the past decade, an astounding 95 percent of the military hardware acquired by Israel has come from US suppliers.
Amid a raging humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing military actions, a growing faction within the United States, including politicians and segments of the public, has begun advocating for a reevaluation of military support for Netanyahu’s government.
The situation escalated significantly following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. In retaliation, Israeli military actions have reportedly led to a staggering death toll of over 42,340 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry governed by Hamas.
As the international community watches closely, the US faces mounting pressure to balance its military commitments to an ally with the pressing humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza.
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