The US President Joe Biden's administration has written a letter to the Israeli government, urging action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This action was prompted by a significant decrease in aid, which has fallen by over 50% from its peak levels, as stated by a State Department spokesperson.
Despite calls from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the levels have not been sustained in recent months, with the current levels being described as 'very, very low.' The US engaged in intense discussions with Israel to address these concerns, but ultimately, the issues were not adequately resolved, leading to the letter being sent.
It remains unclear what consequences Israel may face if it does not comply with the demands outlined in the letter. The State Department spokesperson mentioned that there are implications in US law, but did not specify further.
In May, the Biden administration had reported to Congress that Israel had not violated international law during its conflict in Gaza. This assessment was based on the changes implemented by Israel and the increased levels of humanitarian aid provided. However, it is emphasized that these increased aid levels need to be sustained over time.
The US has set a 30-day deadline for Israel to make the necessary changes to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. This deadline was not influenced by any upcoming elections, as clarified by the spokesperson. The US acknowledges the challenges Israel may face in increasing aid levels and has allowed time for them to work through these issues.
The focus is on improving the delivery of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine to Gaza to acceptable levels. The US aims to work collaboratively with Israel to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza are met effectively.
