Everyone in North Gaza at Risk of Dying: UN

Two weeks after the United States warned Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or risk losing US funding, the United Nations has issued a grim alert, stating that “everyone in north Gaza is at risk of dying.” Despite this, Israel has continued its intense attacks on the region, with actions including airstrikes, drone attacks, open fire on civilians, the arrest of healthcare workers, and the destruction of medical facilities. Only one hospital remains functional, operating with minimal resources, while civil service operations have ceased. Israel also destroyed the area’s last remaining firetruck.

On the same day the letter was issued, the UN announced that Israel had been blocking nearly all aid to northern Gaza for at least two weeks.

“Israeli human rights groups Gisha, B'Tselem and others say Israel quietly adopted a starve-or-leave policy for northern Gaza…” NPR

No aid trucks were permitted into north Gaza between October 2 and October 14, according to UN data.

The US warning came in a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, directed to Israeli officials. The letter demanded that Israel increase the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to 350 per day, giving Israel 30 days to respond. This is not the first such warning; the US has previously cautioned Israel about the humanitarian crisis but has not pulled funding that includes arms and ammunition for Israel’s use in Gaza.

Notably, Biden and Netanyahu had spoken just a week before the letter was issued. According to the White House readout, they discussed several topics, including Lebanon, Iran, Hezbollah, and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. They also emphasized “the imperative to restore access to the north, including by reinvigorating the corridor from Jordan immediately.”

Yet, even one week after this high-level conversation, Blinken and Austin felt it necessary to formalize their demands in writing.

The US and Biden's failure to hold Israel accountable has only taught Israel that it can do what it wants, how it wants and there will be no consequences.

So it is no surprise that Israel has continued its attacks, with very little ramp-up in humanitarian aid deliveries since the letter was issued.

Not only has Israel not allowed in more aid, but aid overall is at its lowest levels since the war began.