AP: Israel fails to honour US humanitarian ultimatum to surge aid to Gaza

The Israeli authorities cannot ensure fulfilment of US demands to increase humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip within 30 days.

Halfway through a 30-day deadline set by the Biden administration, Israel is falling short of US demands to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Associated Press.

In a joint letter dated October 13, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to facilitate a minimum of 350 aid trucks into Gaza daily to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions amid its ongoing war with Hamas. However, by the end of October, the average number of trucks entering Gaza was only 71 per day, far below the US-set target, according to U.N. figures.

As a potential mid-November deadline looms, the situation could serve as a critical test of President Joe Biden's stance on Israel, a close US ally. This ultimatum from the Biden administration marks one of its firmest positions so far, coming after months of appeals to reduce civilian harm in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters, Blinken confirmed that while there has been some progress, it remains insufficient. “We’re working on a daily basis to make sure Israel does what it must do to ensure that this assistance gets to people who need it inside of Gaza,” Blinken stated, adding that distribution within Gaza must also be effective, not limited to getting trucks across the border.

Blinken and Austin’s letter signals a tougher approach as support for Israel remains a key issue for many Republican and some Democratic voters, adding complexity to any US decision on restricting military funding ahead of the tight 2024 presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The deadline thus holds considerable political weight, marking a pivotal moment in US-Israel relations and the Biden administration’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Notably, the Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas. The crisis includes both looming famine and a collapse of healthcare. At the start of the war, Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip, resulting in significant shortages of fuel, food, medicine, water, and basic medical supplies.

The siege has resulted in a 90% drop in electricity availability, affecting hospitals, sewage treatment plants, and the closure of desalination plants that provide drinking water. Large-scale outbreaks of disease have spread throughout the Gaza Strip.

By Khagan Isayev