US to maintain 'Israel' military support despite ultimatum disrespect

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
13 Nov 2024 11:14

The United States, which provides over $3 billion annually in military aid to "Israel", has sent $17.9 billion in weapons support since October, when Tel Aviv began its genocidal campaign in Gaza.

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The photo pictures US-provided projectiles near an Israeli howitzer (AFP)

The United States has confirmed it will continue its substantial military aid to "Israel", despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of at least 43,700 Palestinians.

On Tuesday, the US State Department stated that there were no changes to its policy regarding the weapons flow to "Israel". Spokesperson Vedant Patel confirmed, "I don’t have any changes to the US policy on the issue to announce."

This decision comes even as "Israel" has ignored a 30-day deadline set by Washington to increase aid into the war-torn Palestinian territory. Despite the apparent failure to meet this deadline, the US has opted to maintain its lethal military support. This move risks violating US laws that prohibit military assistance to parties committing "gross violations of human rights."

The United States, which provides over $3 billion annually in military aid to "Israel", has sent $17.9 billion in weapons support since October, when Tel Aviv began its genocidal campaign in Gaza.

According to the United Nations, 70 percent of the fatalities from the Israeli brutal military assault are women and children, with the majority of victims being minors between the ages of five and nine. The war has also left more than 103,400 others wounded.

On Tuesday, Ilze Brands Kehris, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, urged all countries supplying weapons to "Israel" to reconsider these arrangements. She also highlighted “constant and continued interference with the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance,” which has now reached its lowest levels in a year.

Joyce Msuya, the UN's Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, condemned the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the Israeli actions against Palestinians “acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes.”

She condemned the Israeli entity for its increased indiscriminate attacks on northern Gaza, where Israeli aggression has caused damage to or complete destruction of “more than 70 percent of civilian housing.”

In a related development, eight international aid organizations, including Save the Children and Refugees International, issued a statement expressing regret that "Israel" had not only failed to meet the criteria that would suggest an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza but had also taken actions that “dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, particularly in northern Gaza.”

US says 'Israel' not violating Gaza aid law despite looming famine

The United States graciously announced on Tuesday that "Israel" has, of course, not violated any US laws regarding the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza—because why would it? However, they did mention that a bit more effort is needed to improve the situation on the ground.

This revelation follows a letter from the outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, clearly concerned, expressed their deep concern over Gaza's humanitarian crisis. They even warned "Israel" about the potential consequences for military aid if they didn’t meet the aid flow targets by November 13—because that's been so effective so far.

However, 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."

The 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.