By Nakiwala Barbra
Israel has failed to meet a U.S.-imposed deadline to significantly increase aid deliveries to Gaza, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued an ultimatum, requiring Israel to allow a minimum of 350 aid trucks into Gaza each day by November 12. However, the UN reports that aid deliveries remain at their lowest level in a year, and a recent UN-backed report warned of an imminent risk of famine in northern Gaza, where aid has scarcely reached in the last month.
Louise Wateridge, Senior Emergency Coordinator for UNRWA in Gaza, stated that Israel’s aid efforts have not met U.S. demands, adding, “There is not enough aid here. There are not enough supplies… People are starving in some areas.” Conditions are dire, with people reportedly fighting over basic food supplies.
In Gaza, soaring food prices and a severe bread shortage have intensified hardships. Footage from the BBC shows desperate residents crowding around one of the few remaining bakeries, scrambling to buy bread at drastically inflated prices. Aida al-Horan, a grandmother, told the BBC, “If it were not for the soup kitchen, we would have starved to death.”
Despite Israel’s claim that it has increased aid access to Gaza, including through the reopening of the Erez West crossing, the actual number of aid trucks remains far below the U.S. target.
Israel’s military liaison office, COGAT, also announced the opening of a new crossing at Kissufim, saying that “most aspects [of Blinken’s demands] have been met” and that any remaining issues are under discussion. However, UN officials argue that the average number of aid trucks entering Gaza remains just over 40 per day well below the U.S. goal.
While Israel contends that it has made sufficient aid available, the UN claims Israel’s restrictions and ongoing military operations have hindered safe delivery, making it nearly impossible to distribute aid effectively. Israel also accuses some aid trucks of being looted by armed groups, an assertion the UN disputes, emphasizing that it is Israel’s responsibility as the occupying power to ensure the secure passage of aid.
The failure to meet the aid threshold comes amid mounting tensions between Israel and the Biden administration, as the White House faces calls to hold Israel accountable. With over 43,000 Palestinian lives lost and escalating destruction in Gaza, some analysts speculate that U.S. leverage may be limited in the final months of the Biden presidency.
