Advocates question US ‘threat’ to Israel over Gaza aid: What to know

Senior US Officials Warn Israel of Possible Aid Cut

Senior United States officials have warned Israel that if it does not take “urgent and sustained actions” to allow more humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, the US government may be forced to curtail its support for the top ally.

The warning, put forward in a letter signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin that was made public this week, came as Israel’s year-long war on Gaza has fuelled starvation and disease across the coastal Palestinian enclave.

US Officials Demand Increased Humanitarian Assistance

“The amount of assistance entering Gaza in September was the lowest of any month during the past year,” the US officials said in the letter, giving Israel 30 days to act on a series of demands to “reverse the downward humanitarian trajectory”.

The demands include allowing a minimum of 350 trucks to enter Gaza per day, providing for “adequate humanitarian pauses” for at least the next four months, and rescinding evacuation orders “when there is no operational need”.

US Law and Israel’s Violation

Under US law, if a country restricts the delivery of American-backed humanitarian aid, the US is required to suspend military assistance to that country. However, the Biden administration has not applied this rule to Israel.

Israel receives at least $3.8 billion in military assistance annually from the US, and an additional $14 billion has been approved since the war in Gaza began.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Israel has been accused of impeding the efforts of the United Nations and other humanitarian aid groups to deliver critical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. The UN’s hunger monitoring system has reported that 1.84 million Palestinians in Gaza face high levels of acute food insecurity, with 133,000 experiencing “catastrophic” insecurity.

Expert Reactions to the US Letter

Experts have criticized the US administration for giving Israel 30 days to allow more humanitarian assistance before cutting off military aid, despite evidence of hindered deliveries. Some have called for concrete action to enforce US laws and address Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian relief.

Reasons for Issuing the Letter

The dire conditions in northern Gaza and fears of a “policy of starvation” have brought attention to humanitarian aid restrictions. The letter also comes ahead of the US presidential election, with the Biden administration facing criticism for its support of Israel.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Targets Identified:

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round
• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

Indicators:

• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment
• Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability status
• Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aljazeera.com