The US government expressed concern over Israel’s progress in improving humanitarian access to Gaza, stating Israel has not met the aid targets outlined in a recent letter from top US officials. The Biden administration gave Israel a “fail” grade on its efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, as reported by the Associated Press.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday that Israel has yet to fulfill the requirements set forth in a letter sent in October by secretary of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin. The letter called for Israel to allow a minimum of 350 trucks carrying aid into Gaza daily. However, according to the United Nations, only an average of 71 trucks are entering per day.
“We have seen an increase in some measurements,” Miller said. “but if you look at the stipulated recommendations in the letter — those have not been met.”
The US gave Israel a 30-day deadline to implement these changes, which is approaching. While Miller did not specify what actions the US might take if Israel fails to meet the deadline, he said, “we will follow the law.”
The situation in Gaza has become a point of contention between the US and Israel, with Blinken and Austin urging Israeli officials to prioritise civilian aid. Blinken spoke directly with Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday, urging him to “substantially increase and sustain humanitarian aid” to Gaza’s civilians, according to state department.
Meanwhile, the Israeli body overseeing Gaza’s aid, COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories), reported some progress, evacuating 72 patients from northern Gaza and delivering medical supplies, food, and fuel on Monday. However, the progress falls short of US expectations, drawing disapproval from Washington.
On the other hand, the head of Unicef, the UN children’s agency, warned that “the entire Palestinian population in North Gaza, especially children, is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine, and ongoing bombardments.
The US further expressed concern over the rise in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
“These violent actions cause intense human suffering for Palestinians and they threaten Israel’s security. It is critical that the government of Israel deter extremist settler violence and take measures to protect all communities from harm in accordance with its international obligations,” Miller said.
US officials stressed the need for Israel to prevent these incidents, expressing “deep concern” over the issue. They warned that Israeli groups involved in violence against Palestinian civilians could face further sanctions.