The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it will not impose restrictions on military assistance to Israel despite only limited progress in expanding humanitarian aid access to Gaza. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasized that while the flow of aid remains inadequate, the U.S. does not believe Israel has violated any laws governing the terms of American military aid. "We are not giving Israel a pass," Patel told reporters, adding, "We want to see the totality of the humanitarian situation improve, and we think some of these steps will allow the conditions for that to continue to progress."
The decision to maintain unrestricted military support to Israel comes as international aid organizations warn of a worsening crisis in Gaza. The situation has intensified since Israel's expanded military operations against Hamas, launched after an October 7 attack that left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead, many of them civilians. Gaza's civilian population of 2.3 million has faced severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies amid ongoing military strikes.
In October, the U.S. issued a 30-day ultimatum to Israel, linking military assistance to improved aid access for Palestinians. While some concessions have been made, such as allowing limited aid convoys and opening a new crossing at Deir al-Balah, U.S. officials stressed that more needs to be done. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reinforced these demands during a meeting with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer on Monday. "The secretary emphasized the importance of ensuring those changes lead to an actual improvement...including through the delivery of additional assistance to civilians throughout Gaza," the State Department said.
Aid groups, however, remain unconvinced that enough progress has been made. Eight international organizations, including Save the Children and Mercy Corps, released a report claiming that Israel has failed to meet 15 of the 19 U.S.-stipulated benchmarks for aid access. The report highlighted the dire conditions in northern Gaza, where aid deliveries remain virtually nonexistent due to ongoing military operations and logistical hurdles. "The level of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza is nowhere near what we need to support more than two million Palestinians," said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, calling for more robust aid routes and fewer restrictions.
The situation on the ground has been marked by persistent challenges. Although Israel recently allowed 11 trucks carrying food to enter the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the World Food Program reported that military checkpoints forced the unloading of cargo, preventing most supplies from reaching their intended destinations. Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), described the coordination issues as critical. "If we are not provided a safe passage to go and collect [aid]...it will not reach the people who need it," she said.
In response to international pressure, Israeli officials have announced several steps intended to alleviate humanitarian distress, including the expansion of a "humanitarian zone" in central Gaza and connecting electricity for a desalination plant in Deir al-Balah. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar appeared confident that tensions over the aid situation would be resolved, remarking Monday that he believes the issue is "being solved."
Despite these moves, hunger experts have warned that certain areas in Gaza may already be experiencing famine. The independent Famine Review Committee recently issued a rare alert, stating that immediate and drastic measures are required to avert catastrophe in northern Gaza.
Israel's actions come amid its broader military campaign against Hamas, which it describes as a necessary response to terrorist attacks originating from Gaza. The offensive has reportedly killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, though these figures are not independently verified and do not distinguish between militants and civilians. Nearly 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced, many of whom are living in overcrowded tent camps.
While President Biden's administration continues to support Israel's military actions, officials have made clear that any further deterioration in Gaza's humanitarian conditions could force a reevaluation of U.S. aid policies. "There need to be some additional steps that are also taken, but most importantly, we need to see these kinds of efforts sustained over a long period of time," Patel said, cautioning that consistent progress remains essential.
