By Mohammed Abunahel

U.S. Warns Israel to Address Gaza Humanitarian Crisis or Risk Losing Military Aid

Amid international warnings of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under siege and brutal attack for over a year due to continuous Israeligonocidal war, the U.S. has issued a stark warning.

On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a formal request to Israel, urging action within the next 30 days to address the severe conditions in Gaza. 

According to Axios, the message emphasized that U.S. military aid to Israel could face consequences if the situation remains unaddressed, with Blinken and Austin pressing for urgent measures to provide rapid humanitarian relief.

The letter stated: "We are writing now to underscore the U.S. government's deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory,"

The letter referred to Section 620-I of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, which restricts military assistance to countries obstructing American humanitarian aid. 

The letter also cited a National Security Memorandum that U.S. President Joe Biden issued in February that requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of U.S. weapons does not violate U.S. or international law.

U.S. officials earlier this year said Israel may have violated international humanitarian law using U.S.-supplied weapons during its military operation in Gaza.

This development comes as Israeli occupation forces expand operations in northern Gaza, heightening concerns about access to humanitarian aid, particularly essentials such as food, water, and medicine for civilians.

Last week, the U.S. informed the United Nations Security Council that Israel urgently needs to address the “catastrophic conditions” faced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who continue to suffer due to restrictive policies blocking aid deliveries.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder also highlighted the escalating crisis for Gaza’s children, warning that conditions are worsening daily. In August, Gaza received less aid than any prior month since the genocidal war began, with several days last week seeing no commercial trucks allowed entry.

Meanwhile, large areas of Gaza lie in ruins from ongoing Israeli airstrikes since October 2023, which complicated the Israeli war in Gaza. As Israel intensifies its operations in northern Gaza, the United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands are trapped in these areas.

The region now faces severe famine due to airstrikes that have decimated essential food infrastructure, including bakeries and flour mills, and widespread shortages of basic supplies persist across Gaza.

In light of the U.S. warning, will Israel now face increasing international scrutiny over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza? The American request underscores the urgent need for relief efforts to reach the affected population, with implications for aid provision and the stability of U.S.-Israel relations.

With infrastructure in ruins and essential supplies dwindling, the situation demands swift action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's civilians. The ongoing dialogue reflects a critical juncture in balancing humanitarian concerns with longstanding security alliances, pressing both Israel and the international community to respond to the growing crisis.