U.S. Gives Israel 30 Days to Increase Gaza Aid or Face Military Support Cuts

The U.S. has issued a letter to Israel, giving the country 30 days to improve humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk a reduction in some U.S. military assistance.

Sent on Sunday, this letter represents the strongest written warning from the U.S. to its ally amid a new Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, which has reportedly resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

The letter expresses deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation, noting that Israel denied or hindered nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between northern and southern Gaza last month.

An Israeli official stated that Israel is currently reviewing the letter and takes the matter seriously, intending to address the concerns raised with U.S. counterparts.

Israel has maintained that it is targeting Hamas operatives in the north and is not obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid.

On Monday, Cogat, the Israeli military body managing crossings into Gaza, announced that 30 trucks carrying aid from the World Food Programme had entered northern Gaza through the Erez crossing. This marked the end of a two-week period in which the UN reported no food aid had reached the north, leaving essential supplies dwindling for the 400,000 Palestinians in the region. A UN official described the situation in Gaza as one of “constant peak emergency.”

Antoine Renard, head of the World Food Programme in the occupied Palestinian territories, stated that people in northern Gaza are “relying solely on assistance,” with little access to fresh food outside what UN agencies provide.

The U.S. is the largest supplier of arms to Israel, and the Israeli military has relied heavily on U.S.-supplied equipment in its conflict with Hamas over the past year.

The contents of the letter, first reported by Axios, have been confirmed by the State Department and are signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The letter underscores the U.S. government’s serious concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza and calls for urgent actions from Israel to reverse the current trajectory. It highlights that Israeli evacuation orders have forced 1.7 million people into the congested al-Mawasi area, increasing the risk of contagion due to extreme overcrowding.

The U.S. letter details specific actions Israel must take within the 30-day period to enhance aid supplies, warning that failure to comply may have implications for U.S. policy. It cites U.S. laws that can restrict military assistance to countries impeding the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid.