WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s ultimatum for Israel to enhance humanitarian aid to Gaza is falling short just halfway through the 30-day period. A review of data from both the United Nations and Israeli sources reveals that Israel hasn’t met the specified requirements. Moreover, Israel has not adhered to deadlines set forth in an October 13 letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. As mid-November approaches—after the U.S. elections—this timeline may become critical in evaluating President Joe Biden’s stance on holding a close ally accountable, considering Israel’s disregard for urgent requests to protect Palestinian civilians amid its conflict with Hamas.
In their correspondence, Blinken and Austin mandated that Israel significantly improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, insisting on allowing at least 350 trucks per day loaded with essential food and supplies. As of the end of October, records show that an average of only 71 trucks were making their way into Gaza, according to U.N. reports.
Blinken emphasized that both the State Department and the Pentagon are closely monitoring Israel’s reaction to these demands. “We’ve seen some progress, but it’s not enough, and we are working diligently to ensure that Israel fulfills its obligations to deliver assistance to those in need within Gaza,” he remarked when addressing reporters. He also stated that while getting trucks into Gaza is a step forward, what is equally essential is ensuring that the supplies can be distributed effectively within the territory.
The letter sent by Blinken and Austin represents one of the Biden administration’s most assertive approaches in the past year regarding Israel’s military actions and their impact on Palestinian civilians. With support for Israel being a fundamental issue among various political groups, any decision by the Biden administration to impose restrictions on military assistance could have far-reaching implications as the race for the presidency tightens.
Reports indicate that the ongoing military operations and aid restrictions have severely hindered the delivery of food and other essential supplies to the already devastated regions of north Gaza since mid-October, raising alarm about a potential famine in the upcoming weeks or months.
In response to U.S. concerns, Israeli lawmakers have recently voted to effectively terminate operations of the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. This move has alarmed governments, humanitarian organizations, and the U.N., which warn that halting aid from UNRWA could dismantle existing networks trying to provide food and resources to those in Gaza.
Amber Alayyan, a medical program manager for Gaza at Doctors Without Borders, described the situation as “catastrophic.” Humanitarian officials remain doubtful that Israel will significantly enhance aid to civilians even with the U.S. warning, raising questions about the Biden administration’s ability to enforce any changes if they do not occur.
At this juncture in the conflict, neither better aid flow nor strong U.S. intervention appears to have materialized, according to Scott Paul from Oxfam. “We’ve continuously been reassured that the U.S. is assessing the situation in Gaza and attempting to implement necessary interventions, yet nothing tangible has come from those discussions,” he stated.
Prior to the outbreak of conflict, Gaza received an estimated average of 500 trucks daily to support its population of 2.3 million, a number that humanitarian organizations deemed essential for meeting basic needs. Since the conflict’s escalation, however, aid delivery has consistently lagged, with Israel’s peak in April allowing just 225 trucks per day, significantly lower than what was needed.
The restrictions have worsened; by early October, reports indicated that only an average of 13 trucks were getting into Gaza each day. By the end of that month, this number had modestly increased to 71 trucks, but challenges persisted in the distribution of aid once it reached the territory. Slow Israeli processing, regulatory limitations, and other logistical barriers hindered organizations from distributing supplies effectively to those most in need.
Data from COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing humanitarian efforts toward Gaza, illustrated a dramatic drop in aid levels, with the total amount entering Gaza in October falling to about one-third of what was allowed in September. An official noted that aid delivery in northern areas remained limited primarily to Gaza City, providing insufficient access to places like Jabaliya, where severe military campaigns continue to obstruct flow.
The absence of a response to U.S. requests for a senior communication channel to discuss concerns regarding civilian distress in Gaza indicates continued disregard for international pleas, raising further questions about Israel’s accountability. The U.S. remains the largest arm supplier to Israel and has paused some military shipments due to concern over civilian welfare in the ongoing conflicts. Recent reviews even suggested that Israel’s use of U.S.-provided weapons might have violated international humanitarian guidelines, albeit during challenging wartime circumstances.