Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Limited; U.S. Continues Military Support

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Limited; U.S. Continues Military Support \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Biden administration has opted to continue arms support to Israel, citing some, though insufficient, progress in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Despite global aid groups warning of worsening conditions, the U.S. has refrained from imposing restrictions, while calling for Israel to improve its humanitarian efforts. Challenges persist, including strict Israeli controls, restricted access to aid, and mounting casualties from ongoing offensives.

U.S. Decision to Continue Arms Flow to Israel Quick Looks

• Decision on Arms Supply: The Biden administration will continue arms support to Israel, despite limited humanitarian aid reaching Gaza.
• Humanitarian Conditions: Relief groups warn of worsening conditions, with aid struggling to reach northern Gaza due to Israeli restrictions and regional instability.
• Limited Access to Aid: Aid convoys face delays, with only partial shipments reaching Gaza, highlighting obstacles to U.N. and international relief efforts.
• Biden’s Expectations: While urging more aid access, the Biden administration did not determine Israel to be in violation of U.S. military assistance laws.
• Impact of Trump’s Election Win: Israel’s Foreign Minister suggested the U.S. may have reduced leverage following Trump’s re-election, as he maintains strong pro-Israel support.

Deep Look

In response to mixed progress in humanitarian access to Gaza, the Biden administration announced Tuesday that it would continue supplying arms to Israel, holding back from imposing restrictions on military aid. Despite earlier warnings from U.S. officials that restrictions might be placed if Israel did not increase aid access to Gaza, the administration indicated that Israel’s limited efforts toward expanding humanitarian deliveries were sufficient to avoid penalties. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel explained that, while some improvements have been made, the situation requires more substantial and sustainable support for Gaza’s population.

The Biden administration’s decision contrasts sharply with calls from international aid organizations that claim conditions in Gaza have deteriorated, especially in the northern regions. Relief groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, jointly reported that Israel has not only fallen short of U.S. humanitarian criteria but has worsened conditions through military restrictions and sieges in parts of Gaza. The report cited 19 specific metrics and found that Israel had failed to meet 15 and only partially fulfilled four of them, pointing to a severe need for access improvements in the region.

President Biden had previously given Israel 30 days to ramp up daily aid deliveries into Gaza to at least 350 truckloads, reopen crossings for aid distribution, and improve conditions for those in coastal “humanitarian zones.” However, actual delivery levels remain far below this target, with U.N. agencies reporting only 39 trucks per day entering Gaza since October, according to their estimates. Issues with distribution in northern Gaza, where Israel has intensified its military operations against Hamas, further complicate relief efforts.

Recent U.N. reports show that humanitarian convoys attempting to deliver food, water, and other supplies to northern towns have encountered significant setbacks. Last week, for instance, Israel authorized a delivery of 14 trucks to the besieged northern town of Beit Hanoun. However, only three trucks managed to complete their journey due to long delays and overcrowded routes, forcing the remaining trucks to abandon their mission. When aid groups attempted another delivery on Tuesday, Israeli forces denied them access.

In the southern regions of Gaza, aid supplies have similarly been constrained. Although hundreds of trucks loaded with food and water are parked near the Kerem Shalom border crossing, U.N. officials report they cannot access these supplies to distribute them due to security risks and limited movement permissions from the Israeli military. Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), expressed concern over the stalled aid, stressing that safe passage is essential to reach families in need.

Tuesday’s decision by the U.S., Israel’s largest arms supplier, signals a cautious balancing act for the Biden administration. While continuing military support, U.S. officials have reiterated the need for a broader improvement in Gaza’s humanitarian access. “We are not giving Israel a pass,” Patel said, adding that the administration will keep pushing for increased humanitarian aid. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing the urgent need for Israel’s commitments to translate into tangible improvements in Gaza’s humanitarian situation.

International aid organizations, however, remain critical. The coalition report stated that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened over the last month, pointing to a potential famine in the north, where civilians have been almost entirely cut off from food supplies. According to the World Food Program, October saw a sharp decline in food entering Gaza, with just 34,000 tons brought in — about a third of September’s total. Moreover, local reports suggest that fighting and Israeli regulations are also stalling critical medical and hygiene resources.

Israel has attempted to address some humanitarian concerns, announcing a new aid corridor in central Gaza outside the city of Deir al-Balah and extending a coastal “humanitarian zone” where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering in tent camps. Additionally, Israel has connected electricity for a desalination plant in Deir al-Balah to improve access to fresh water. However, critics argue that these actions fall short of meeting the scale of the crisis and fail to address severe access restrictions in northern Gaza.

Adding to the dynamic, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has expressed confidence that the U.S. deadline would not strain Israel’s access to U.S. military support. The election victory of Donald Trump, an outspoken supporter of Israel, may also impact Biden’s leverage over Israel. Saar’s remarks implied that with Trump’s impending return to office, the Israeli government might anticipate a friendlier U.S. policy stance in the near future.

Biden’s continued support reflects the complex political landscape surrounding Israel’s operations in Gaza, where the military is intensifying offensives against Hamas strongholds. Since October, Israel has reported that it killed hundreds of militants and displaced thousands, with a focus on clearing areas used by Hamas for organizing and regrouping. Local health authorities report over 43,000 Palestinian fatalities since the escalation began, with more than half of the victims identified as women and children. The toll has created a humanitarian crisis that has displaced over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Meanwhile, President Biden held talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who called on the U.S. to prioritize countering Iran and its proxies in the region. Herzog urged Biden to push for the release of approximately 100 hostages held by Hamas, to which Biden responded, “I agree.” The hostage crisis remains an ongoing factor in U.S.-Israel relations, with both countries coordinating to address escalating security concerns. The Biden administration’s decision to uphold arms transfers comes amid Republican criticism, with GOP members questioning whether withholding military support would compromise Israel’s security.

Donald Trump, who maintains strong support among conservative voters and Israeli leaders, has expressed intentions to reduce U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. Since his election win, Trump has reportedly spoken with Netanyahu on multiple occasions, pledging to “end wars” in the region while avoiding specifics on how he would approach ongoing conflicts.

As conditions in Gaza deteriorate and U.S. involvement in military aid continues, the Biden administration’s stance highlights the struggle between supporting a strategic ally and upholding humanitarian standards. Global attention remains on how the U.S. will address future pressures on aid and arms transfers as the conflict in Gaza continues.

More on World News