Biden administration intensifies pressure on Israel to address humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The Biden administration is intensifying its demands on the Israeli government to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

According to a US official, if Israel does not comply with these demands by November 13, the administration may consider suspending military assistance—an option that has gained traction within the State Department, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

This decision regarding Israel’s adherence to US requests and potential violations of U.S. law during the ongoing conflict in Gaza may become a significant issue for the Biden administration following the upcoming presidential election.

On October 13, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a letter to their Israeli counterparts, giving an ultimatum: Israel must take action within 30 days to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, or the flow of US weapons could be impacted. Last March, Israel had committed in writing to uphold these terms, but the US administration believes Israel is falling short.

Recently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been conducting operations in northern Gaza that have severely restricted humanitarian aid, dropping it to its lowest levels since the conflict began over a year ago. Israel claims the goal is to prevent Hamas from regrouping, but this has led to critical shortages of food and medical supplies for Palestinians, with at least 50,000 people displaced since the operation commenced.

Aid organizations have likened Israel’s strategy to a plan by former generals to isolate northern Gaza and pressure Hamas into surrendering, a claim the Israeli government and IDF deny. However, US officials are increasingly skeptical of Israel's actions.

In recent meetings in Israel, Blinken reiterated the US demands, and he has been monitoring Israel's compliance closely. Austin has also communicated US expectations to his Israeli counterpart. Both officials acknowledged that while some progress has been made, more action is needed, emphasizing that it’s crucial for aid not only to arrive in Gaza but also to be effectively distributed.

State Department officials have recently expressed dissatisfaction with Israel’s response, particularly following an airstrike that destroyed a residential building in Gaza and resulted in numerous civilian casualties. They also highlighted the lack of aid reaching Jabalia and raised concerns over a new Israeli law that could significantly limit the work of the UN’s main humanitarian agency.

Public criticism from US officials, including Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has increased, with statements suggesting Israel's actions could be perceived as starving Palestinians in Jabalia.

Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer has been assigned to draft a response to the US letter, which is expected to be finalized only after the US elections, with the outcomes likely influencing its content. While the IDF and Israeli Ministry of Defense have begun implementing some US demands, meeting key requirements, such as allowing 350 aid trucks into Gaza daily by November 13, appears unlikely without further approvals from the Israeli cabinet, which are not anticipated before the elections.

By Vafa Guliyeva