The United States has told Israel that military aid could be cut if humanitarian aid to Gaza is not stepped up by thirty days. This harsh message was conveyed in a diplomatic note sent by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The letter pointed a “deep concern” on their worsening condition of humanitarian situation in Gaza. Last month alone, the US claims that a staggering 90% of the aid going to Gaza was either denied or significantly limited by Israeli forces.” The letter said that millions of displaced people are squeezed into a small area, noting that this can cause changes in policy in Washington.
In response more Israeli airstrikes were conducted in the southern Gaza Strip and at least 15 people died including six children. Hitherto, as global condemnation of the Israeli action rises especially after a ground attack into Lebanon aimed at Hezbollah’s installations, the tension rises. Currently led by Hassan Nasrallah’s deputy, Sheikh Naim Kassem, Hezbollah has promised to keep on targeting cities in Israel, particularly Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Israel has also been accused of attacking UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and when this has been proved to be true Prime Minister Netanyahu has denied it. The violence has been already costing lives of more than 42000 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry stated, as the Israel-Hamas war drags on without a foreseeable end.
