US Warns Israel Has Not Significantly Increased Access To Aid To Gaza Strip

Humanitarian aid trucks enter Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Monday Israel had taken several steps to increase access to aid to Gaza, but so far failed to significantly change the humanitarian situation in the enclave, as the deadline set by the US to improve the situation draws nearer.

President Joe Biden's administration told Israel in a letter dated October 13, it had 30 days to take specific steps to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which in the past year underwent air and ground operations against the Hamas militant group.

Aid workers and UN officials say humanitarian conditions continue to worsen in Gaza.

"To this day, the situation has not changed significantly. We have seen an increase in several measurements. We have seen an increase in the number of crossings opened. But if you look at the recommendations set out in the letter, it has not been fulfilled," Miller said.

Miller said the results so far were "not good enough", but stressed the period of 30 days had not passed.

In addition, he declined to say what consequences Israel would face if it failed to implement the recommendation.

"What I can tell you is that we will follow the law," he said.

Washington, Israel's main arms supplier, has urged Israel to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza since the war with Hamas began with an attack by the Palestinian militant group on October 7, 2023 in southern Israel.

Letter dated October 13, sent by Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said failure to demonstrate a continuing commitment to implementing aid access measures could have implications for US policies and laws.

Article 620i of the US Foreign Aid Act prohibits military aid to countries that hinder the delivery of US humanitarian aid.

Yesterday, Israel officially withdrew an agreement recognizing the UN refugee agency (UNRWA) war by formally writing to the United Nations, linking it to allegations the agency's staff had ties to Hamas.