Israel did not comply with US ultimatum to help Gaza

Israel’s response to the Biden administration’s 30-day ultimatum to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza has so far been lackluster, according to an Associated Press analysis of U.N. and Israeli data.

With a critical midterm approaching in mid-November following the US election, President Joe Biden faces a turning point in addressing the humanitarian crisis while balancing support for a key ally.

In an Oct. 13 letter, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for significant improvements in the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, specifically demanding that Israel allow the use of at least 350 trucks per day to deliver emergency supplies.

However, by the end of October, an average of only 71 trucks were entering Gaza, well below the target.

Blinken stressed that while there has been some progress, it remains insufficient.

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“It is very important that what they bring can be effectively distributed within the Gaza Strip,” he said, emphasizing the importance of not only the amount of aid, but also its availability to those who need it.

The letter marked one of the administration’s strongest positions in a year filled with calls for Israel to strengthen protection for Palestinian civilians during the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

The political stakes are high; Support for Israel remains a contentious issue among Republican voters and some Democrats.

The humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza is worsened by the ongoing Israeli military campaign, which has prevented aid delivery since mid-October.

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The region is reportedly on the brink of famine, and international observers are sounding the alarm about a looming humanitarian catastrophe.

These concerns are compounded by the fact that Israeli lawmakers recently voted to effectively disband the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The move has been criticized by governments and humanitarian organizations around the world as a major blow to relief efforts.

Despite US warnings, skepticism remains about Israel’s willingness to increase humanitarian aid.

Before the conflict escalated, an average of 500 trucks delivered aid to Gaza every day, a figure aid groups say is important for the region’s 2.3 million people, many of whom have been repeatedly forced from their homes.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, Israel has not come close to this average, with daily aid figures peaking at 225 truckloads in April and then falling sharply.

Following the Biden administration’s letter, the number of aid trucks entering Gaza dropped to 13 per day in early October.

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Although this number increased to 71 by the end of the month, it is still not enough to meet the immediate needs of the population.

Once supplies arrive in Gaza, their distribution remains a major hurdle due to various obstacles, including slow processing by Israeli authorities and supply restrictions.

COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing humanitarian aid, reported a sharp decline in aid supplies, with total shipments falling to 26,399 tons in October from 87,446 tons in September.

The Biden administration’s requests for a high-level communications channel to address civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip remain unfulfilled, even as Israel continues its military operations.

As Israel’s largest provider of military aid, providing nearly $18 billion during the ongoing war, the United States finds itself in a difficult situation.

The administration previously suspended the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian safety and conducted reviews that showed Israel’s military actions could violate international humanitarian law.

As the situation in Gaza worsens, the Biden administration’s approach in the coming weeks will be critical not only to humanitarian efforts, but also to its broader geopolitical position.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.