Israel misses US deadline to boost aid in Gaza – Rights groups

International rights organizations claim that Israel has not complied with a US deadline to permit further humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip or risk undefined limitations on military aid.

According to report, eight groups claimed on Tuesday, that the situation in the war-torn enclave is worse than it has ever been since the conflict began in October 2023.

This was made as the 30-day deadline was about to expire.

On October 13, US President Joe Biden’s administration threatened to reduce military assistance to its main partner.

Unless Israel increased the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“Israel not only failed to meet the US criteria that would indicate support to the humanitarian response, but concurrently took actions that dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, particularly in northern Gaza,” said the groups.

These groups include Oxfam, Refugees International, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The humanitarian organizations evaluated Israel’s actions and released a statement.

They stated: “That situation is in an even more dire state today than a month ago”.

“Israel has failed to comply with its ally’s demands, at enormous human cost for Palestinian civilians in Gaza”, they continued.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar appeared to minimize Tuesday’s deadline in an interview with reporters, according to report.

He stated that he was sure “the issue would be solved.”

Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog later on Tuesday.

The rights organizations analyzed the US’s 19 standards and claimed that Israel “actively worsens the humanitarian situation” and “failed to take meaningful action” in 15 of them, including allowing at least 350 relief trucks to enter Gaza daily.

The Israeli military stated on Tuesday that, in cooperation with COGAT, the Israeli military agency in charge of Palestinian civil affairs, hundreds of food and water supplies were sent to Jabalia and Beit Hanoon in the besieged northern part of Gaza.

Additionally, it stated that 741 supply trucks have been delivered to northern Gaza since October, during which time Israeli forces have been waging a significant offensive.

The United Nations has regularly accused Israel of obstructing efforts to transport humanitarian supplies, especially to the northern section of the enclave.

UN further stated that the volume of aid entering Gaza has fallen to its lowest level in a year.

The president must suspend security assistance to any nation that imposes restrictions on US humanitarian help under the US Foreign Assistance Act.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD), was recently deployed by the United States, along with troops to operate it.

“Ethnic cleansing” campaign

There is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of northern Gaza, according to a group of international experts on food security.

“Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation,” the independent Famine Review Committee said.

According to the eight rights organizations, Israel’s disregard for pressing humanitarian issues calls into doubt both its duty as an occupying power and its compliance with international humanitarian law.

“The US government once again laid out basic measures for how the government of Israel must follow international law and allow for aid delivery in Gaza,” Oxfam America President and CEO Abby Maxman said.

“Since then, we have seen Israeli forces accelerate their efforts to bombard, depopulate, deprive, and erase the Palestinian population of the North Gaza governorate.

“We are witnessing a campaign of ethnic cleansing”, Maxman added.

The Palestinian ministry of health reports that since October 7, 2023, Israel’s attack on Gaza has resulted in at least 43,603 Palestinian deaths and 102,929 injuries.

The Israeli military has increased its ground invasions and bombardment in northern Gaza since October of this year

The military stated that its goal is to prevent Hamas fighters from reorganizing.

In a report released on Friday, the UN stated that women and children accounted for over 70% of the combat deaths in Gaza.

The office of the UN high commissioner for Human Rights confirmed 8,119 of the individuals reported murdered during the first six months of the war.

It stated that the youngest was only a day old and the oldest was a 97-year-old lady.

According to the report, attacks on civilians that are “widespread or systematic” may qualify as “crimes against humanity.”

“And if committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, they may also constitute genocide”, it said.

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