US issues 30-day ultimatum to Israel over Gaza humanitarian crisis
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: (L-R) U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. President Joe Biden listen as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi speaks during a virtual meeting in the South Court Auditorium of the White House complex April 11, 2022 in Washington, DC. India has maintained a neutral stance so far in Russias invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The US government has delivered a stern written warning to Israel, demanding immediate action to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The letter, signed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, gives Israel 30 days to improve aid access or risk losing some US military assistance.
The US expresses deep concern over Israel’s blockade of humanitarian movements, forced displacement of civilians, and deteriorating conditions in Gaza.
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Nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between north and south Gaza were blocked last month, forcing 1.7 million people into a narrow coastal strip with a high risk of lethal contagion.
The US demands that Israel take concrete measures to boost aid supplies within 30 days and reaffirm its commitment to not forcibly evacuate civilians from northern Gaza. Failure to comply may lead to implications for US policy, including reduction or suspension of military assistance, citing laws prohibiting aid to countries blocking US humanitarian assistance.
Earlier, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) told the BBC that not enough aid is getting into Gaza.
The agency’s Matthew Hollingworth was quoted saying that, “We have not had the access and space to do our work.”
“Nothing is going in to north of Gaza. We just had a breakthrough of 12 truckloads go in – but it’s not enough. We need deliveries every single day,” he says.
