US Finds Israel Has Not Breached Law on Gaza Aid Blockage, Amid UN Warnings

The United States has declared that Israel has not violated American statutes regarding the obstruction of aid deliveries. This determination comes after the expiration of a 30-day period during which the US had mandated Israel to improve humanitarian aid access in Gaza, with the potential consequence of military assistance reductions. On Tuesday, officials indicated that Israel has undertaken several actions to address US requirements for increasing supplies into Gaza, though they added that further progress is still needed. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel specifically noted the opening of a new land crossing and the resumption of deliveries in the northern region, although he did not confirm that any aid had entered the besieged Jabalia refugee camp. Despite these claims from the US, the United Nations has cautioned that the volume of aid reaching Gaza is at its lowest point in a year. A recent report, supported by the UN, warned of an imminent risk of famine in northern Gaza, an area that has received almost no aid in the past month. Joyce Msuya, the United Nations acting under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, stated that “international crimes were being committed in Gaza.” Ms. Msuya briefed council members at the United Nations on Tuesday, reporting that Israeli authorities were preventing humanitarian assistance from entering North Gaza, where fighting continues. She noted that 75,000 people remain in that area with dwindling provisions. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had given Israel 30 days to ensure a daily increase in aid trucks reaching Gaza; that deadline expired on Tuesday. A letter sent to the Israeli government demanded that the country end the isolation of the besieged north, where aid groups warn that civilians are being starved amidst Israel’s military offensive. A collective of eight humanitarian aid agencies reported that conditions had, in fact, deteriorated since the letter was dispatched. However, the US reaction on Tuesday suggests that Washington will continue to provide weapons to its ally, despite increasing warnings from aid groups about civilians being killed and displaced by Israel’s assault on the north. The Israeli military, conversely, stated it has been combating a Hamas resurgence in the region. Israel asserts it has substantially increased the amount of aid entering Gaza and accuses aid agencies of failing to distribute it adequately. In Beit Hanoun, which was under siege for over a month, Ms. Msuya reported that food and water reached shelters on Monday, only for Israeli soldiers to forcibly displace people from those areas on Tuesday. Ilze Kehris, assistant secretary general for human rights at the UN, commented that “the pattern and frequency of Israel’s attacks suggest systematic targeting of civilians.” A significant portion of the deaths and destruction was caused by US weapons, supplied to Israel to assist in its fight against Hamas. Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas following the group’s attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage. Since then, more than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.