US Warns Israel: Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Must Not Increase, Military Assistance at Risk

US media reports that the Biden administration has recently warned the Israeli government that if it does not allow more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip within 30 days, its access to US military aid funding may be jeopardized. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a letter dated Sunday, October 14, told their Israeli counterparts that Israel must increase the incoming aid to Gaza to at least 350 trucks per day. They reiterated Washington's position on the necessity of protecting civilians and facilitating aid delivery to them, urging the Israeli government to implement more humanitarian pauses in various parts of the Gaza Strip to ensure greater security for aid centers and relief operations. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, October 24, that a similar letter from Antony Blinken last April led to more humanitarian aid reaching Palestinian territories, but that process did not continue. Sabrina Singh, spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, also stated, 'Ground routes are the most effective way to help civilians who are in dire need of assistance. Therefore, of course, we want to see corridors opened. This is something the Secretary continues to emphasize in his communications.' Vice President Kamala Harris had previously posted on social media platform X, referring to a UN report about humanitarian aid not reaching Gaza in the past two weeks, calling for immediate action from Israel to facilitate aid for Palestinian civilians. In her post, she stated that 'Israel must take further immediate actions to facilitate the flow of aid to those in need,' emphasizing that civilians in Gaza 'must have access to food, water, and medicine. International humanitarian laws must be respected.'