The U.S. has confirmed ongoing arms support for Israel while expressing humanitarian concerns regarding the Gaza crisis. Despite some improvements in aid delivery, Israel has not fully met U.S. demands for increased assistance. Humanitarian organizations warn of worsening conditions, including potential famine. U.S. officials emphasize the need for further action from Israel to address the situation, while political motivations behind the U.S. stance are also suggested as the Biden administration approaches its final months.
U.S. Confirms Continued Arms Support for Israel Amid Humanitarian Concerns
On Tuesday, the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden announced that the United States will maintain its arms shipments to Israel. Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, emphasized during a press briefing that Israel has addressed some, but not all, of the requests made by the White House. “Currently, the U.S. does not believe that Israel is in violation of U.S. law,” Patel stated.
Humanitarian Situation and U.S. Demands
On October 13, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered a notable letter to the Israeli government, indicating that Israel had a 30-day period to address the “increasingly grim” humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Failure to do so could lead the U.S. to reconsider its military assistance to Israel.
In their correspondence, Blinken and Austin referenced a law that prohibits U.S. support for foreign entities engaging in “serious human rights violations.” Israel has faced accusations over the past months regarding its obstruction of aid to Gaza, a claim that Israel has consistently denied.
The flow of aid trucks has remained low, prompting speculation that the U.S. might restrict certain offensive weaponry after the deadline. This possibility has created anxiety within Israel, as reported by the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz.” An Israeli official expressed concern that the Biden administration would still be in power for two more months, allowing time for significant repercussions.
However, it appears that the White House is not acting on its warnings. To improve the humanitarian conditions, Israel has opened several crossings into Gaza and relaxed certain customs regulations for aid organizations. Furthermore, the humanitarian zone at al-Mawasi has been expanded, and aid deliveries to northern Gaza have resumed after a lengthy halt.
Despite these measures, Israel has not fully met a key demand from the U.S.: the requirement for 350 trucks of aid to reach Gaza daily. Aid organizations report that currently only 40 to 50 trucks are delivering supplies to the southern region, with “very few” reaching northern Gaza.
The Israeli military has acknowledged that October was a “very weak month” for aid deliveries, attributing this to Jewish holidays and memorial observances related to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. According to military reports, since the start of November, around 50 trucks per day have been reaching northern Gaza, and 150 trucks have been sent to other areas. However, these figures from the military and aid organizations remain unverified.
Experts are sounding alarms about potential famine conditions. The humanitarian crisis in parts of the Gaza Strip is dire, particularly in the north, where a new Israeli offensive began in early October, halting aid deliveries for several weeks. Aid organizations state that approximately 100,000 people have recently fled northern Gaza to Gaza City, while many others remain trapped in hazardous areas. UN experts have warned that famine may be imminent or already underway in northern Gaza.
On Tuesday, eight humanitarian organizations, including Oxfam and Save the Children, issued an open letter asserting that Israel has failed to meet both U.S. and international legal obligations to provide adequate support for Gaza.
The issues surrounding the lack of aid are not solely due to Israeli restrictions; distribution also poses significant challenges. Trucks are frequently looted by Hamas and armed groups, with food being sold at inflated prices on the black market. Some aid organizations are hesitant to deliver supplies at all. Reports indicate that 900 truckloads are currently waiting at the Kerem Shalom border crossing to be distributed by aid organizations.
Blinken has reiterated the need for an end to the conflict. Washington seems to have concluded that Israel has made some progress in meeting its responsibilities, but insists on further improvements. On Tuesday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, stressed that there should be no forced displacements or starvation tactics in Gaza, urging Israel to ensure that any improvements are both comprehensive and sustainable.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted that while Israel has complied with several requests, others remain unmet. He emphasized the need for extended pauses in fighting to facilitate aid deliveries, stating, “The best way to address the needs of the people is to end the war.”
It remains uncertain whether Washington is genuinely satisfied with Israel’s actions. Nonetheless, the Biden administration seems reluctant to confront Israel in its final two months. Some analysts view the U.S. letter as a political maneuver aimed at galvanizing Arab voter support, a strategy that has not proven beneficial for Kamala Harris.