Gaza: Biden administration threatens to cut military assistance to Israel, issues 30-day humanitarian demand
The Biden administration has threatened to cut military assistance to Israel if the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not improved, giving a deadline of 30 days.
The new warning was issued in a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer.
“We are now writing to underscore the US government’s deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government,” the letter dated October 13 said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The letter referenced the US Foreign Assistance Act which prohibits the US from giving military security aid to a country that “prohibits or otherwise restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance.”
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed the existence of the letter in a briefing Tuesday but would not comment on what consequences Israel would face if the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza does not improve.
The Biden Administration sent a similar warning to Israeli officials in April.
“We have been having a number of ongoing conversations with them about the very serious decrease in the level of humanitarian assistance,” Miller said Tuesday.
“Ultimately, we did not see our concerns sufficiently addressed, which is why the two secretaries sent the letter.”
The new letter comes as the situation in the Gaza Strip further deteriorates.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health on Tuesday, 55 people were killed and 329 were injured in the prior 24 hours.
The ministry says the total death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel is more than 42,000.
The US sent the letter even as it continued to provide help to its close ally.
On Tuesday, the US announced it was sending an advanced anti-missile system and about 100 American troops to Israel amid turmoil in the Middle East involving Israel, Lebanon and Iran.
Meanwhile, a number of pro-Palestinian organizations, including Oxfam, Medical Aid for Palestinians and ActionAid called on global leaders Tuesday to take action to end Israel’s assault on Gaza, saying in a joint release that the northern part of Gaza is “being wiped off the map.”
Progressive members of the Democratic Party, as well as advocacy organizations like IfNotNow, have been calling on the Biden administration for months to halt arms to Israel.
“This letter is a clear sign that the Biden Administration is feeling the pressure from the vast majority of Americans — including a majority of American Jews — who support leveraging US military funding for the Israeli military to push for a ceasefire,” IfNotNow’s national spokesperson Eva Borgwardt said in a statement.
“The administration can and must act now — each day the Biden Administration waits to cut off the flow of bombs, planes, and missiles, the Israeli military uses U.S. weapons to extinguish more Palestinian lives.”
- With CNBC
