The US told Israel that it would impose an arms embargo on the Jewish state if it does not resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, N12 reported on Tuesday.
The White House expressed "deep concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza in recent weeks" and called for urgent steps within the next month to reverse this trend.
Secretary of State Blinken & Secretary of Defense Austin sent a letter on Monday to Israel demanding it takes steps within 30 days to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza in order to avoid consequences in U.S. law for U.S. milirary aid to Israel. See letter here: pic.twitter.com/N9DDMqsL7u — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 15, 2024
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant received a letter from the Biden Administration outlining American positions on Gaza, N12 noted.
The letter called for Israel to be held to its March 2024 commitment "'to facilitate and not arbitrarily deny ... the delivery of United States humanitarian aid' to and within Gaza."
As part of this commitment, the State Department would conduct an audit under US law and policy. A truck carries humanitarian aid across Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver aid, off the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, near the Gaza coast, June 25, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN/FILE PHOTO)
The letter reportedly highlighted that since March, the lowest amount of aid entering Gaza was recorded in September.
It added that Israel had 30 days to rectify the situation and that failure to do so would lead to consequences for Israeli aid, as per American law.
The announcement was made shortly after the US decided to deploy its THAAD missile defense system to Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also called for an arms embargo on Israel. Stay updated with the latest news! Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter Subscribe Now
The House Foreign Affairs Committee requested a briefing from the Biden administration regarding this letter, a committee majority spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday afternoon.
Later on Tuesday, Reuters reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote a letter to Israel to make clear Washington's concerns about the levels of humanitarian assistance that have been arriving to Gaza, the State Department said on Tuesday.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular news briefing that the US knows it is possible to get humanitarian aid into Gaza and that bureaucratic and logistical obstacles can be surmounted.
"We need to see further changes by the government of Israel," Miller said, adding that there are implications under US law and Washington hopes that Israel will make the changes outlined in the letter.
The Pentagon said the letter was "private correspondence" and declined to discuss it in detail.
Eatthehamsters69 on October 15th, 2024 at 13:27 UTC »
Even if you are a diehard Israel supporter, you should still support pressure on Netanyahu to resolve Palestine in a peaceful and dignified way.
There will never be peace in the region as long as it remains in limbo
7thAndGreenhill on October 15th, 2024 at 13:22 UTC »
I'm not seeing this being reported elsewhere, yet. Until other news sources pick it up, I remain skeptical.
BringbackDreamBars on October 15th, 2024 at 13:10 UTC »
Original Hebrew Source at https://www.mako.co.il/news-diplomatic/2024_q4/Article-5cda5c61e009291027.htm:
The US threatens Israel: resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza - or we will impose an arms embargoTranslation:
The US sent a clear message to Israel, according to which the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip must be resolved within a month, and if not, an arms embargo will be imposed on it, N12 learned today (Tuesday). A letter to ministers Ron Dermer and Yoav Galant, where the demand was conveyed.
"In accordance with Israel's commitment in March 2024 to allow and not prevent the transfer of American humanitarian aid or aid supported by the administration in Gaza, the State Department must conduct an audit in accordance with the aid law," it said.
The administration expressed deep concern over the "deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza in recentweeks", and raised a demand to see urgent steps within the next month in order to reverse the trend. The Americanspoint out that since the promises made in March, the lowest amount of aid entering the Strip was recorded in September.
"In order to change the negative humanitarian trend and in accordance with its promises, Israel must take concrete steps within 30 days. Failure to implement these steps may lead to consequences for the policy of the United States in accordance with American law (the foreign aid program to Israel - arms embargo)."