Israel Falls Short on U.S. Aid Deadline for Gaza as Crisis Deepens

Israel Falls Short on U.S. Aid Deadline for Gaza as Crisis Deepens \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Halfway through the Biden administration’s 30-day deadline for Israel to significantly boost aid to Gaza or risk potential U.S. military funding restrictions, progress remains minimal. With humanitarian conditions deteriorating, Israel is allowing only a fraction of the required aid into Gaza. As Washington monitors the situation closely, this deadline could test the Biden administration’s resolve to hold Israel accountable in balancing security measures with civilian protection in Gaza.

U.S.-Israel Humanitarian Aid Ultimatum: Key Points

• Falling Short on Aid Targets: Israel is allowing significantly fewer aid trucks into Gaza than the 350 daily minimum requested by the U.S., averaging only 71 trucks per day.
• High-Stakes Deadline: The Biden administration’s mid-November deadline may signal its willingness to leverage military funding to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza’s civilians.
• Critical Conditions in North Gaza: Aid groups warn of possible famine as restrictions keep essential supplies out of hard-hit northern Gaza areas, where aid distribution remains highly limited.
• U.N. and Aid Organizations’ Concerns: Leaders from major humanitarian organizations have called the situation in Gaza “apocalyptic” and condemned Israel’s restrictive aid measures.
• Missed Communication Channels: Despite U.S. requests, Israel has not established a senior-level channel for the U.S. to address humanitarian concerns or coordinate relief efforts.

Deep Look

Halfway through a 30-day deadline from the Biden administration, Israel has yet to significantly increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, prompting concerns that the U.S. may impose new restrictions on its military funding. A detailed analysis of U.N. and Israeli data by the Associated Press reveals that, as of the end of October, Israel has allowed an average of just 71 trucks per day into Gaza—far below the U.S. demand for 350 trucks daily to meet the urgent needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The lack of progress has exacerbated already dire conditions in Gaza, where food, medical supplies, and essential goods remain in short supply due to both ongoing military campaigns and aid restrictions.

This ultimatum, issued jointly by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in an October 13 letter, set forth specific demands to address Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian situation. Their letter emphasized the necessity of restoring sufficient aid flows to prevent civilian suffering, as continued restriction of goods threatens to deepen the crisis in one of the world’s most densely populated regions. The deadline, which ends in mid-November, could test the Biden administration’s commitment to holding a close ally accountable for failing to meet humanitarian standards during the prolonged conflict with Hamas.

While Blinken confirmed that the State Department and Pentagon are closely tracking Israel’s progress, his latest comments indicate that efforts to increase aid have been insufficient. Speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aides, Blinken underscored the importance of ensuring that aid not only reaches Gaza but is distributed effectively within the region. “It’s not enough to get trucks to Gaza,” he emphasized, “it’s vital that what they bring with them can get distributed effectively inside of Gaza.” Aid groups agree that Israel’s current measures fall short of what is necessary to prevent further suffering among Gaza’s civilian population.

Israel’s reluctance to meet these requirements is further illustrated by declining aid levels since last spring. Where pre-war shipments once averaged 500 trucks daily, by early October the number had dropped to just 13 per day. The late October average of 71 trucks per day marks a slight increase but remains far from the needed capacity to serve a population that is overwhelmingly reliant on external aid. Scott Paul, associate director at Oxfam, noted that efforts to increase humanitarian aid remain inadequate and that continued unmet goals reflect a troubling pattern of unmet U.S. commitments in Gaza.

In the war-torn north Gaza region, conditions are particularly severe. International aid organizations, including the World Food Program and the World Health Organization, issued a collective warning that the “apocalyptic” conditions in north Gaza could soon lead to famine. Access to food and critical care has been nearly impossible in certain areas due to the intensification of Israeli military operations and lack of humanitarian access. Israeli restrictions, which prevent U.N. agencies like UNRWA from distributing aid in several areas, have further hindered relief efforts. Although UNRWA’s role in Gaza is crucial, this week Israel’s legislature voted to effectively cut off support for the agency, an act humanitarian officials say could devastate already struggling aid networks.

COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid to Gaza, reported that aid levels in October were significantly lower than in previous months, with only 26,399 tons of aid reaching Gaza compared to 87,446 tons in September. COGAT officials noted that current distribution efforts focus on Gaza City rather than more densely populated areas to the north, which have been heavily affected by military campaigns. A senior COGAT official, Elad Goren, dismissed concerns about other northern areas, asserting that areas like Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya have “no population” left and thus do not require aid—a claim disputed by humanitarian groups that assert there are still significant numbers of civilians in need.

Since the conflict escalated in October, humanitarian groups have faced logistical hurdles not only in getting trucks across the border but also in ensuring these supplies reach those who need them most. Delays in processing, strict controls on permitted items, and local challenges, including violence and looting, have hindered aid efforts. Doctors Without Borders’ Gaza program manager Amber Alayyan highlighted that no significant progress has been made in reaching those in northern Gaza, stressing that “no way” has Israel fulfilled its obligations to ensure sufficient aid reaches hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need.

Despite ongoing dialogue between U.S. and Israeli officials, there is increasing skepticism among aid groups about Israel’s willingness to make meaningful changes in humanitarian access. The October 13 letter also requested a formal high-level channel for addressing U.S. humanitarian concerns, but Israeli officials have yet to establish such a framework. This communication channel, which the U.S. had requested since the beginning of the conflict, could have provided a structured way to address challenges on the ground, yet by the end of October, it was still not operational.

Support for Israel remains a significant issue for both political parties in the U.S., adding complexity to the Biden administration’s potential response if Israel does not meet its humanitarian obligations. Many voters, particularly within the Republican base, view U.S. support for Israel as fundamental. However, some Democratic leaders are urging stricter conditions on military aid to ensure humanitarian standards are upheld. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in a close race, any decision by Biden to restrict funding could have far-reaching political implications.

This ultimatum is not the first time the Biden administration has weighed conditional support for Israel. Last spring, the administration paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns about civilian casualties from Israel’s use of U.S.-supplied weaponry. A subsequent review in May found likely violations of international humanitarian law, though conditions prevented officials from drawing conclusions on specific strikes. According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, the U.S. has provided nearly $18 billion in military support to Israel during the current conflict, underscoring the critical financial link between the two allies.

As the mid-November deadline approaches, the Biden administration’s commitment to its own standards for international humanitarian law and foreign aid is likely to face a defining test. Whether the U.S. will enforce its ultimatum to compel increased aid access for Gaza’s civilians remains uncertain. What is clear is that as the crisis deepens, the world is watching how the U.S. balances its longstanding alliance with Israel against its stated goals of humanitarian relief and civilian protection.

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