US Confirms Israel Has Not Violated Aid Access Requirements in Gaza.
The United States recently clarified that Israel has not breached American laws regarding the obstruction of aid supplies into Gaza, even as a 30-day deadline for Israel to facilitate greater humanitarian access has passed. US officials stated on Tuesday that while Israel has taken certain steps to improve aid flow, more work is needed.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel pointed to new actions taken by Israel, including opening an additional land crossing and restoring aid deliveries in northern Gaza. However, he did not confirm whether aid had reached the Jabalia refugee camp, which remains heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict.
The United Nations has warned that Gaza is experiencing its lowest levels of aid deliveries in a year. A recent UN-backed report warned of an impending famine in northern Gaza, where minimal aid has reached the region over the past month.
Joyce Msuya, the acting UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, reported to UN council members that humanitarian assistance was being obstructed in northern Gaza, where active fighting is ongoing. According to Msuya, approximately 75,000 people in the area are facing critical shortages of essential supplies.
Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken set a 30-day deadline for Israel to facilitate more frequent aid deliveries into Gaza. The deadline, which expired Tuesday, included a formal request to Israel to address the growing isolation of northern Gaza, where aid organizations report severe food and supply shortages due to the intensified military offensive.
Despite the concerns raised, the US announced it would continue military support for Israel. Humanitarian organizations, meanwhile, have expressed frustration, citing worsening conditions and continued civilian casualties and displacements in the region as Israel continues operations in northern Gaza.
Israel’s military has maintained that it is countering Hamas activities in the north. Israeli authorities report that aid levels to Gaza have increased substantially, though they argue that aid agencies have not been distributing resources effectively.
In Beit Hanoun, which had been under siege for over a month, Msuya reported that food and water were finally delivered to shelters on Monday, only for residents to be displaced again by Israeli forces the next day.
Ilze Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, indicated that the pattern of Israel’s attacks may be systematically impacting civilians. The UN reported that much of the destruction is the result of US-provided weapons intended for Israel’s fight against Hamas.
Israel’s military campaign against Hamas began following the group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 43,000 people have died in the region as a result of the ongoing conflict.
Source: BBC News.
