The US government has repeatedly called on Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Otherwise, Washington threatened to cut off military aid. A 30-day period expires on Tuesday. “This week we will decide what progress they (Israel) have made,” the White House said on Monday.
The US is Israel’s most important ally and by far its largest arms supplier. It is unclear exactly which weapons could be affected by cuts. Such a measure could certainly hit Israel hard. It is a dilemma for the US: it wants to force Israel to take action on the Gaza issue, but at the same time does not want to limit the country’s ability to defend itself against its enemies, especially Iran. However, it is assumed that mainly offensive weapons can be affected, but not the defense systems against missile attacks from Iran.
Trump could undo everything
Despite criticism of Israel’s warfare, the US has so far refrained from limiting military aid. If this really happens, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government can hope for an old ally: the new US leadership under Donald Trump could reverse all restrictions next year.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed “deep concern” about the humanitarian situation in Gaza in a strongly worded letter in October and called for “urgent and sustained action” from the Israeli government. A week ago, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller acknowledged that Israel has taken important steps to increase humanitarian aid. However, more is needed to alleviate the suffering of the people in the densely populated, closed-off coastal area, which has been largely destroyed after more than a year of war.
Israel wants to expand humanitarian zones
Shortly before the deadline for implementing US demands, the Israeli army announced an expansion of the so-called humanitarian zone in the disputed Gaza Strip. There are field hospitals, tents, as well as food, water and medicine in the zone, the army spokesman said in Arabic. However, Gazans point out that there is no safe place in the coastal strip. Even in the declared safe zone, deadly army attacks had taken place repeatedly.
Aid organizations have urgently warned of famine, especially in the north of the coastal strip. According to media reports, the US demands, among other things, that Israel allow at least 350 trucks per day to pass through all four border crossings into the Gaza Strip and that a fifth crossing be opened.
Israel accuses Hamas of plundering aid supplies
According to Israel, aid deliveries are repeatedly looted by the Islamist Hamas, which then sells the goods to the population at exorbitant prices in order to ensure its continued rule. The left-liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that armed gangs had organized around the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and looted aid shipments. The Israeli army does not prevent this for fear that international aid workers could be harmed if they intervened. This, in turn, could increase international criticism of Israel.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
