The US has warned Israel that it must improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next month or face a cutoff of military aid. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israeli officials on Sunday demanding “concrete steps” to address the deteriorating situation as Israel resumes operations in northern Gaza, US officials said on Tuesday, the 15th of October, reports Reuters.
Israeli forces have expanded operations in northern Gaza amid concerns about humanitarian access to the enclave and civilians’ access to food, water and medicine.
Reuters reported earlier this month that food supplies have fallen sharply as Israeli authorities have introduced new customs rules on some humanitarian aid and separately cut supplies organised by companies.
“We are particularly concerned that recent measures by the Israeli government … are contributing to the deterioration of conditions in Gaza,” reads a copy of the letter published by Axios journalist on X.
The letter cited restrictions imposed by Israel, including restrictions on commercial imports, the denial of most humanitarian transfers between northern and southern Gaza, and ” burdensome and excessive” restrictions on what goods can enter Gaza.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the letter was “not meant as a threat”, but reiterated the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We think they (the Israelis) are taking it seriously,” Kirby said of the letter, without elaborating.
An Israeli official in Washington said the letter had been received and was being reviewed.
The letter sets out specific steps Israel must take within 30 days, including allowing at least 350 trucks a day into Gaza, imposing a pause in hostilities to allow aid deliveries and lifting orders to evacuate Palestinian civilians if there is no operational need.
“Failure to demonstrate a sustained commitment to implement and sustain these measures could have implications for US policy … and relevant US law,” the letter said.
It cited Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits military assistance to countries that obstruct US humanitarian assistance.
It also referred to a National Security Memorandum issued by US President Joe Biden in February, which requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it considers credible Israeli assurances that the use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.
The letter also proposed a new channel for the US to “raise and discuss cases of harm to civilians” with Israel.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to elaborate further on the issue but noted that Israel had not taken sufficient measures to prevent harm to civilians, indirectly referring to the missile strike on Monday that reportedly burned Palestinians alive in a hospital tent.
The Israeli military claimed that the strike targeted militants using the hospital’s command centre, while Hamas denied using civilian sites for military purposes.
The administration balanced its criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza with a strong show of military support, announcing on Sunday – the same day the letter was sent – that it would send US troops and advanced THAAD anti-missile systems to Israel.