US says 'Israel' not violating Gaza aid law despite looming famine
5 Min Read
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel says the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be "unsatisfactory".
-
A woman sits on a bed in a room of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Aug. 25, 2024 (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)
The United States announced Tuesday that "Israel" has not violated US law regarding humanitarian aid entry into Gaza but stressed the need for additional efforts to improve the situation on the ground.
The assessment follows a letter sent last month by outgoing President Joe Biden's administration, in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed alarm over Gaza's humanitarian crisis and warned "Israel" of potential military aid consequences if aid flow benchmarks weren't met by November 13.
When asked if "Israel" had met the outlined criteria, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed that no violation of US law had been determined.
"The overall humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be unsatisfactory," Patel said, but noted that recent actions by "Israel", though limited, are "steps in the right direction."
Read more: North Gaza on brink of 'imminent famine' amid ongoing Israeli siege
Benchmarks not met
The Biden administration's original letter demanded "Israel" allow at least 350 aid trucks per day into Gaza as part of broader aid benchmarks. Although this target was not fully met, Patel claimed that "some progress" had been made, including new crossings into Gaza to facilitate aid deliveries.
He added that the US will keep assessing "Israel's" compliance with international law and may adjust its stance if substantial progress is not maintained.
"We want to see these steps sustained over a significant period of time, and ultimately, we want to see these steps have a tangible impact on the situation," Patel stated while reiterating the administration's commitment to ongoing evaluation.
The decision is seen as an interim measure, as Biden's administration has only about nine weeks left in office, with President-elect Donald Trump set to assume office with a more lenient stance toward "Israel."
Trump has previously vowed to give "Israel" more freedom in its operations, leading to uncertainty about the future of US oversight on humanitarian aid benchmarks in Gaza.
Read more: Trump's new term targets Iran, backs 'Israel', confronts China head-on
'Israel' falls far short of meeting US ultimatum on Gaza aid: AP
In early November, an Associated Press analysis of UN and Israeli data highlighted that "Israel’s" response to the Biden administration’s 30-day ultimatum to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza has thus far fallen short.
By the end of October, the average daily truckload count entering Gaza stood at only 71, well below the requested target.
Despite US calls for increased humanitarian assistance, "Israel" has not committed to them. Before the war broke out in October last year, an average of 500 daily trucks supplied aid to Gaza, a figure relief agencies view as essential for the besieged Strip's 2.3 million residents, many of whom have faced repeated displacement.
Since the war's escalation, "Israel" has not approached its previous aid delivery average; daily truckloads peaked at 225 in April but have since dropped sharply.
Following the Biden administration's letter, daily truckloads fell to just 13 at the start of October, later rising to 71 by the end of the month—still insufficient to meet the population's urgent needs.
Even after supplies enter Gaza, distribution is hindered by logistical challenges, including processing delays and shipment restrictions by the Israeli occupation authorities.
The Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported a sharp drop in aid volume, with October’s shipments amounting to just 26,399 tons, down from 87,446 tons in September.
"Israel" has disregarded another deadline outlined in the letter from Austin and Blinken. The administration’s requests for a direct, high-level communication channel to address concerns about civilian casualties have yet to be implemented, even as "Israel’s" war on the Strip continues.
Situation in Northern Gaza 'apocalyptic'
On November 1, the United Nations issued an urgent warning, describing the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza as "apocalyptic" and stating that the entire population is at imminent risk of death from disease, famine, and ongoing violence.
The UN's top agency heads, representing humanitarian, health, refugee, and children's organizations, issued a joint statement demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered access to humanitarian aid to the besieged region.
"The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic," the statement read, adding that over the past month, Gaza has been under siege, cut off from life-saving supplies and basic aid amidst continuous bombardment.
"The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost contact with those we support and those who provide lifesaving essential services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence," the statement read.
"And we have received reports of civilians being targeted while trying to seek safety, and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention," the statement added.
