The U.S. Department of State confirmed on Monday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have urged Israel to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a private letter sent on Sunday to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, the U.S. expressed concerns about the declining levels of humanitarian assistance reaching Palestinian civilians.
The letter highlighted a drop in aid deliveries, which had previously increased to around 300 to 400 trucks per day but have since fallen by more than 50%. The U.S. is calling on Israel to make changes to ensure that aid, including food, water, and medicine, reaches those in need in Gaza.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that while the U.S. hopes Israel will act quickly to address the issue, there are legal implications under U.S. law if humanitarian aid is obstructed. However, the focus remains on encouraging Israel to resolve logistical challenges and restore aid to acceptable levels.
Miller also dismissed the idea that upcoming U.S. elections influenced the timing of the request, stating that the priority is addressing the urgent humanitarian situation on the ground.
The U.S. expects Israel to work with humanitarian organizations to find solutions and increase aid deliveries in the coming weeks.
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