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US gives Israel ultimatum over situation in Gaza
The US has repeatedly called on Israel to sign a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, noting the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. Now Blinken and Austin have demanded a remedy in the form of an ultimatum.
The United States plans to cut military aid to Israel if the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is not resolved by mid-November, the Financial Times (FT) and Reuters reported, citing letters sent by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israeli officials.
In particular, the US called for an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave ahead of winter, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of commercial routes between the Gaza Strip and Jordan, and lifting the blockade of the northern Gaza Strip.
“We write to you to underscore the US Government’s deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to urge your government to take urgent and sustained action this month to reverse this trend,” the letter said.
As Reuters notes, this is the strictest warning to Tel Aviv since the IDF began its military operation in the Gaza Strip a year ago. During this period, more than 42,000 Palestinians have already died, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate rapidly.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the UN, the ICRC and other major organizations have repeatedly cited the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Last July, the International Court of Justice ruled Israel’s presence in occupied Palestine illegal. Two months later, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories within one year.
The United States also reiterated its call for Israel to sign a ceasefire. In May, President Joe Biden announced a peace plan that included a ceasefire in Gaza, the repatriation of hostages, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. However, this was never implemented, and Israel decided to launch a new military campaign, this time against Hezbollah. According to ABC News, Israeli authorities warned the US about this at the last minute, which left Lloyd Austin “furious.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the IDF will continue operations in Gaza until Hamas is completely defeated.