The United States has asserted that Israel has not violated American laws that would prohibit blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, following a 30-day period during which the Biden administration demanded that Israel improve aid access or risk reductions in its military assistance. This period expired with US officials citing improvements but underscoring that more progress is needed, especially as conditions worsen in Gaza’s north where the UN warns that aid access is at a record low.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel acknowledged that Israel had opened a new land crossing to facilitate aid delivery and resumed supplies to northern Gaza. However, he refrained from confirming if aid had reached severely affected areas like the Jabalia refugee camp. Although Israel’s actions are being lauded as initial steps by the US, the United Nations has indicated that the amount of aid reaching Gaza remains at its lowest point in over a year, suggesting that these measures may be insufficient.
In a recent report to the United Nations, Joyce Msuya, the acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, described alarming conditions in northern Gaza. According to Msuya, Israeli forces have been impeding the flow of essential humanitarian supplies to the region, which has led to what she called “international crimes” against Gaza’s civilians. She explained that approximately 75,000 people in Gaza’s north remain stranded with rapidly depleting resources, further complicating survival amid ongoing conflict.
The situation has escalated to the point where a UN-backed report forecasts an imminent risk of famine in northern Gaza if humanitarian access does not improve. Meanwhile, a coalition of eight humanitarian aid organizations has expressed that conditions have only deteriorated since US Secretary of State Antony Blinken initially set the 30-day deadline for Israel to ensure a daily flow of aid trucks into Gaza.
As the deadline passed, the US has chosen not to reduce military aid to Israel despite the continued hardships faced by Gaza’s civilians. Washington’s response suggests a commitment to maintaining support for its ally amid growing concerns raised by aid groups over the humanitarian impact of Israel’s northern Gaza operations. These groups argue that the current level of aid is far from adequate and that civilians, who are primarily impacted, lack access to food, water, and shelter.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis follows Israel’s intensified military campaign to dismantle Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that carried out a large-scale attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s military has since been engaged in a full-scale offensive on Gaza, which it claims is aimed at eradicating Hamas. However, the scale of civilian casualties has brought international scrutiny. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 43,000 fatalities since the onset of Israel’s offensive, a toll that continues to rise as fighting persists.
Israel, for its part, contends that it has significantly increased the volume of aid flowing into Gaza and has accused aid agencies of inadequately distributing these supplies to civilians. This claim is contested by the UN and aid organizations on the ground, which report that access remains limited, especially in northern areas where residents are caught between encroaching military operations and dwindling resources.
According to Msuya, aid supplies, including food and water, recently reached shelters in the besieged town of Beit Hanoun. However, shortly after distribution efforts commenced, Israeli soldiers reportedly displaced the people from these shelters, further highlighting the instability and challenges faced by humanitarian workers in the region.
UN officials, including Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Kehris, have raised alarms over Israel’s approach in Gaza. Kehris has suggested that the pattern and regularity of attacks point to potential systematic targeting of civilians, actions she warns are in contravention of international law. The widespread destruction in Gaza, much of it wrought by US-supplied weaponry, has prompted calls for Washington to reconsider its military support for Israel amid the mounting civilian toll.
As diplomatic and humanitarian concerns grow, the international community continues to watch closely to see if the Biden administration will implement further measures to ensure aid access in Gaza or if its alliance with Israel will remain steadfast, despite the critical humanitarian issues unfolding.
