Blinken makes clear to Israel that steps so far to increase aid in Gaza are insufficient
TEL AVIV — Israeli leaders told Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday that it is not Israel’s policy to isolate northern Gaza, a senior State Department official said even as the United Nations reported its requests to bring desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the area continued to be denied.
“This includes planned missions by U.N. agencies and our partners to deliver life-saving supplies — including blood, essential medications, food parcels and fuel to hospitals and water facilities,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, during a daily news briefing.
The importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza was a “prominent topic,” in Blinken’s discussions with Israeli officials, according to the senior official, and Israeli officials recognized the level of U.S. concern.
In a letter earlier this month, Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin gave Israel 30 days to increase basic humanitarian aid to Gaza or face risk restrictions on U.S. military assistance as required under U.S. law.
In Tuesday’s meetings, Israeli officials laid out the actions taken in response to the letter, according to the senior State Department official. Blinken noted that the U.S. had seen initial progress in certain areas, but “the steps that are taken thus far have not been sufficient.” Blinken made clear that the U.S. needs to see more action taken, according to the official.
On Monday, 114 trucks crossed into Gaza from Kerem Shalom and the Erez West crossing, according to the State Department, but it was not immediately clear what assistance reached the population.
Israel told Blinken it were doing everything it could to undertake the concrete actions laid out by the Biden administration in the letter. “We take those commitments seriously. It’s the results that matter,” the senior administration official said, adding, “We expect to see action and sustained action on this within 30 days.”
The readout issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office after his meeting with Blinken made no mention of humanitarian assistance.
