US Threatens to Cut Military Assistance if Israel Fails to Increase Gaza Humanitarian Aid

In a significant escalation of diplomatic pressure, the United States has issued a stern warning to Israel, urging it to immediately boost humanitarian aid access in Gaza or risk having some US military assistance cut off. The letter, signed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, represents the strongest written warning from the Biden administration to Israel to date, reflecting growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The letter, sent two days ago, expresses “deep concern” over the deteriorating humanitarian situation as Israel continues its military offensive in northern Gaza, which has resulted in mass displacements of civilians to the south. 

According to the letter, Israel denied or impeded nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between northern and southern Gaza last month, further exacerbating the crisis.

The forced evacuation orders, the letter notes, have displaced 1.7 million people into an increasingly congested and narrow coastal area, putting them at “high risk of lethal contagion” due to overcrowding and lack of basic services.

The Biden administration’s letter demands that Israel take “urgent and sustained actions” within 30 days to reverse the humanitarian deterioration. It emphasises the need for Israel to immediately implement specific measures to improve aid flow, warning that failure to act could have “implications for US policy.” The letter also references US laws that prohibit military assistance to countries that obstruct the delivery of American humanitarian aid.

The document further calls on Israel to end its “isolation of northern Gaza” and make clear that there is no official policy of forced civilian evacuation from north to south. The US insists that aid corridors between the two regions be opened to ensure the delivery of crucial supplies, including food, water, and medical assistance.

This diplomatic message, first reported by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, signals a possible shift in the US-Israel relationship as Washington increasingly ties its military support to humanitarian conditions in Gaza. As the situation in the region worsens, the US has sought to balance its longstanding support for Israel with growing international concerns over the civilian toll of the conflict.

Israel has not yet publicly responded to the letter. However, the pressure is mounting for the Israeli government to address both the military and humanitarian dimensions of the ongoing conflict. 

The next 30 days will be critical in determining whether Israel complies with the US demands or risks a potential shift in US military assistance.

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