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TL;DR:
- U.S. gives Israel 30-day ultimatum to improve Gaza aid access or face potential military aid cuts.
- Blinken and Austin’s letter cites 90% denial of humanitarian movements and forced displacement of 1.7 million people.
- Demands include ending northern Gaza’s isolation and halting forced civilian evacuations.
- Warning reflects growing U.S. concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and Israel’s military actions.
The United States has issued a stern warning to Israel, demanding significant improvements in humanitarian aid access to Gaza within 30 days or risk losing some U.S. military assistance. This unprecedented move comes as Israel’s military operations in northern Gaza have led to mass displacements of civilians to the southern part of the enclave.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin jointly signed a letter expressing “deep concern” about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The letter, sent two days ago, highlights that Israel denied or impeded nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between north and south Gaza last month.
The Biden administration’s warning is particularly noteworthy as it cites U.S. laws that could prohibit military assistance to countries impeding the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid. The letter states that Israel “must, starting now and within 30 days” take concrete measures to boost aid supplies, warning that failure to do so “may have implications for U.S. policy.”
One of the key demands outlined in the letter is for Israel to end the “isolation of northern Gaza” by reaffirming that there will be “no Israeli government policy of forced evacuation of civilians” from north to south. This comes in response to the forced displacement of an estimated 1.7 million people into a narrow coastal strip, where they face a “high risk of lethal contagion.”
The timing of this ultimatum is significant, as it coincides with Israel’s intensified military operations in northern Gaza, particularly around the Jabalia refugee camp. Recent reports indicate that at least 10 Palestinians were killed while waiting for food at a distribution center in Jabalia, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed alarm over Israel’s actions, stating that the Israeli military appears to be cutting off North Gaza completely from the rest of the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the high number of civilian casualties resulting from the intensifying Israeli operations.
This diplomatic pressure from the United States represents a notable shift in its approach towards Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the international community watches closely to see how Israel will respond to this ultimatum and whether it will lead to meaningful improvements in aid access for Gaza’s beleaguered population.
Source: TBS News
