US Defends Israel Amid Gaza Aid Crisis, Demands More Action on Humanitarian Access

The United States has defended Israel after it missed a deadline to improve humanitarian access to Gaza, while also making it clear that its support for Israel will continue, including military aid. This comes after criticism from humanitarian groups that Israel has not done enough to allow aid into Gaza, where conditions have been dire since the outbreak of the conflict with Hamas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke in Brussels on November 13, 2024, urging Israel to take further steps to ease the humanitarian crisis. He said that while Israel had made some progress in allowing aid into Gaza, there were still major issues to resolve. These include extending pauses in the fighting, allowing more commercial trucks to deliver goods, and removing evacuation orders so displaced residents can return home.

A 30-day deadline set by the US for Israel to improve relief efforts expired on November 12. The State Department determined that Israel had not blocked aid, as claimed by some humanitarian groups. However, eight international aid organizations have criticized Israel, saying it hasn't fully met the US’s demands to improve access to assistance. There are growing concerns about food insecurity, with experts warning of a potential famine in Gaza.

Blinken emphasized that Israel needs to take more consistent steps to improve aid flow, including larger pauses in the fighting. He also called for the lifting of evacuation orders and for more trucks to be allowed into Gaza to bring in goods like food and medicine.

The US had warned Israel that failure to address the humanitarian situation could lead to a reduction in military aid, but Blinken made it clear that the US's support for Israel remains strong. Blinken also mentioned that Israel had achieved its key objectives in the conflict, including weakening Hamas, and now is the time to end the war.

President Joe Biden, who is in his final months in office, has been a staunch supporter of Israel since the October 2023 Hamas attack. Former President Donald Trump, who will take office in January, has also expressed strong support for Israel and its efforts to dismantle Hamas.


Reference from:- https://indianexpress.com/article/world/us-israel-deadline-gaza-aid-arms-support-9668176/