US issues ultimatum to Israel threatening to limit military aid
Photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Getty Images)
The US demands that Israel take measures over the next month to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, or it risks military aid restrictions, according to Reuters.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to the Israeli government on Sunday, October 13. The letter calls for specific actions to address the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian enclave amid the resumption of the Israeli offensive in northern Gaza. Failure to act could impact US policy.
"We are particularly concerned that recent actions by the Israeli government ... are contributing to an accelerated deterioration in the conditions in Gaza," the letter states.
The letter cites restrictions imposed by Israel, including limitations on commercial imports, bans on most humanitarian transport between northern and southern Gaza, and burdensome and excessive restrictions on goods allowed into the enclave.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that the letter was not a threat but reiterated the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
"It appears to us that they (the Israelis) are taking this seriously," Kirby said regarding the letter, without providing further details.
Essence and detail of demands
The letter represents the clearest ultimatum from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government since the start of the conflict in Gaza, heightening the likelihood of a shift in US support for Israel.
It outlines specific steps Israel must take within 30 days, including allowing at least 350 trucks to enter the enclave daily, establishing pauses in combat for aid delivery, and canceling evacuation orders for Palestinian civilians unless operationally necessary.
"Failure to demonstrate a sustained commitment to implementing and maintaining these measures may have implications for US policy ... and relevant US law," the letter states.
The letter's authors reference Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits military assistance to countries obstructing the delivery of US humanitarian aid.
The letter also cites a National Security Memorandum issued by US President Joe Biden in February of this year. The document requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it considers Israel's assurances that the use of US weapons does not violate US or international law to be credible.
Additionally, the letter proposes establishing a new communication channel for the US with Israel to "raise and discuss civilian harm incidents."
Israel has previously asserted that it adheres to international law in its operations aimed at eradicating Hamas militants hiding in tunnels and among the civilian population of Gaza.
Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip
In early October 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded Israeli territory from Gaza.
The ground operation was accompanied by aerial attacks and the taking of 250 hostages, with another 1,200 Israelis killed in the initial days of the conflict. The IDF initiated a large-scale military operation against terrorists in Gaza, which continues to this day.
On Monday, October 14, Israeli forces ordered refugees in the Jabalia camp in the northern enclave to evacuate due to the advance of Hamas militants.
The Israeli government is considering a plan to halt humanitarian aid deliveries to northern Gaza to starve the terrorists.
Meanwhile, despite the critical letter, US military forces have deployed a THAAD missile defense battery in Israel to enhance the country's integrated air defense system.
