The Biden administration said Israel is not currently blocking relief and humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza. This does not violate US law. However, Washington has admitted that the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories remains dire.
The State Department said this in a statement on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Israeli officials in a letter on October 13 that Israel must take some steps within 30 days to deal with the humanitarian situation in Gaza. If not, US military aid could be affected.
The last day to take the action mentioned in the letter was Tuesday. However, State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedanta Patel has repeatedly refused to comment on the matter. He said, 'We have seen some progress. Would like to see more changes. Maybe these changes would not have happened if not for the intervention of the United States. Israel will continue to be monitored for compliance with US law.'
Eight international aid agencies, including Oxfam and Save the Children, said Israel had failed to meet the demands by the deadline.
In a statement Tuesday, Hamas criticized the Biden administration's assessment, saying it revealed Biden's support for Israel's violence.
In October 2023, Hamas armed forces killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 Israeli hostages. Since then, Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel. Israel's counter-offensive has killed more than 43,500 Palestinians in Gaza and reduced the territory to rubble.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “Although Israel has taken some measures, the situation in Gaza is still not satisfactory.”
Blinken met with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on Monday. At this time, he reiterated the need for Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Patel said, Israel has taken some steps, such as; Opening the Erez border, relaxing some customs conditions and opening new relief delivery routes to Gaza.
Israeli military agency Kogat oversees Palestinian civilian affairs. The agency on Sunday released a list of Israel's humanitarian aid to Gaza over the past six months. It outlines recent initiatives and plans to continue aid to Gaza during the winter.
But Patel did not elaborate on why Washington chose to base its assessment on Israel's actions rather than monitoring the situation in Gaza.
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon welcomed these steps, saying, 'We are working closely with Washington and doing everything we can to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. It's challenging… because on the other side is Hamas. Even if we allow trucks to pass through checkpoints, Hamas can seize them. Even if we try 100%, we cannot prevent looting of relief trucks.'
Meanwhile, soon after the US deadline, world food security experts warned of famine in northern Gaza, where Israel is waging a military campaign against Hamas fighters.
Israeli forces have been pushing deeper into northern Gaza for nearly a month. Hospitals and shelters are surrounded. The IDF is relocating people to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping.
