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Biden Administration Threatens to Withhold Military Aid to Israel Over Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
The Biden administration threatens to withhold military aid to Israel unless it allows humanitarian assistance into Gaza, amid worsening humanitarian conditions and escalating conflict.
Surviving war, humanitarian aid, children in conflict zones, and war and innocence by Salah Darwish (@salahdarwish)
The Biden administration has warned Israel it will withhold US military armaments unless humanitarian aid enters besieged Gaza. This ultimatum comes amidst Israel's northern Gaza offensive, where airstrikes hit schools, refugee camps and food repositories.
Tens of thousands of civilians face hunger and starvation. US officials pressed Israel to allow aid, but only scant amounts entered Gaza. Israel argues aid benefits Hamas.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israel to reverse declining aid shipments and deteriorating conditions. The US seeks 350 daily truckloads, exceeding the 40 recently allowed.
Israel receives $3 billion annual US military aid, but US law prohibits aid to countries blocking humanitarian assistance. The administration gave Israel 30 days.
President Biden has urged Israel to limit civilian casualties, agree to a ceasefire and facilitate aid since Hamas attacked southern Israel a year ago. Israel's right-wing government largely ignored these pleas.
Gaza's Health Ministry reports 42,000 deaths, mostly women and children. Conservative Republicans protested Biden's brief suspension of bomb shipments, while progressives demand halting arm shipments.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “Security concerns don't justify withholding food and water civilians need to survive.”
