U.S. won't suspend military aid to Israel as Gaza deadline expires
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Palestinians wait to receive meals distributed by charity organizations in Nuseirat Refugee Camp of Deir al-Balah, Gaza on Nov. 12, 2024. Photo: Hassan Jedi/Anadolu via Getty Images
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has decided not to suspend military assistance to Israel after the Israeli government took some steps to improve the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the State Department said.
The big picture: Humanitarian groups on Tuesday said the situation in Gaza is at its worst since the war began in 2023, and the Biden administration has been under pressure to use its leverage with Israel to improve the situation.
Catch up quick: Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave their Israeli counterparts an ultimatum to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza by Nov. 12.
- If the Biden administration had determined Israel hasn't taken sufficient steps to increase aid to Gaza, the U.S. could have suspended arms supplies to Israel, in accordance with U.S. law.
- The eight aid groups who issued a report on Tuesday said Israel has failed to meet the demands set by the Biden administration to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Driving the news: The Israeli security cabinet on Sunday night approved several steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and increase the number of aid trucks coming in, Israeli officials said.
- On Monday, Blinken met with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer who briefed him on what steps Israel has taken and those that are planned.
- Blinken "emphasized the importance of ensuring those changes lead to an actual improvement in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including through the delivery of additional assistance to civilians throughout Gaza," the State Department said.
- On Tuesday, Israel also opened another border crossing into Gaza to allow more aid to go in.
But, Israeli officials admit they won't be able to meet the U.S. demand that at least 350 aid trucks be able to enter Gaza daily.
Behind the scenes: In the past few days, there has been a fierce internal fight within the State Department around the question of whether Israel has implemented most of the U.S. demands, U.S. officials said.
- The U.S. officials said many State Department officials thought Israel hasn't taken sufficient steps and pushed Blinken and his senior staff to suspend at least some military assistance to Israel.
- On the other hand, some of Blinken's senior aides and senior White House officials thought the ultimatum was effective and pushed Israel to change course. They advocated for continuing to press the Israelis on the issue instead of suspending weapons supplies, U.S. officials said.
- Blinken eventually decided to go with the second group.
What they're saying: State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Tuesday that Israel has taken several steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza in response to U.S. demands and stressed Israel still needs to take additional steps.
- "At this time we haven't made an assessment that Israel is in violation of U.S. law. We are going to continue to watch and assess their compliance with U.S. law," Patel said.
- He added that there is no change in U.S. policy regarding military assistance to Israel.
- "If we don't continue to see steps in the appropriate direction we will enforce U.S. law," Patel stressed.
- Patel pushed back on criticism that the Biden administration "is giving Israel a pass" and claimed the steps Israel has taken in recent days wouldn't have happened without U.S. pressure.
