Eight International rights groups said on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, that Israel has failed to meet a deadline set by the United States to allow more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip or face unspecified restrictions on military assistance.
The statement was co-signed by Anera, Care, MedGlobal, Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International and Save the Children.
On October 13, 2024, the administration of US President Joe Biden told Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, failing which Washington would scale back military support to its key ally.
The groups said on Tuesday, the day when the 30-day deadline was set to expire, that conditions in the war-ravaged enclave are worse than at any point in a war that started in October 2023.
According to the groups, Israel not only failed to meet the US criteria that would indicate support to the humanitarian response, “but concurrently took actions that dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, particularly in northern Gaza.”
“That situation is in an even more dire state today than a month ago,” they said in a statement after the humanitarian agencies assessed Israel’s measures.
“Israel has failed to comply with its ally’s demands – at enormous human cost for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”
Right groups
After analysing the 19 requirements outlined by the US, the rights groups asserted that Israel failed “to take meaningful action” and “actively worsens the humanitarian situation” in 15 of them, including enabling the entrance of at least 350 aid trucks per day into Gaza.
A committee of global food security experts warned of a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of northern Gaza.
The independent Famine Review Committee said, that immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation.
The eight rights groups stressed that Israel’s failure to address urgent humanitarian needs raises questions about its adherence to international humanitarian law and its obligations as an occupying power.
Oxfam America President and CEO, Abby Maxman noted, that the US government “once again laid out basic measures for how the government of Israel must follow international law and allow for aid delivery in Gaza.”
“Since then, we have seen Israeli forces accelerate their efforts to bombard, depopulate, deprive, and erase the Palestinian population of the North Gaza governorate. We are witnessing a campaign of ethnic cleansing.”
Abby Maxman
Israeli Minister Confident Issue Would Be Solved
Speaking to reporters, Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar seemed to downplay Tuesday’s deadline, saying he was confident “the issue would be solved.”
On Tuesday, the Israeli military said that hundreds of food and water packages were delivered to Jabalia and Beit Hanoon in besieged northern Gaza in coordination with COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs.
It also said that since October, 741 aid trucks have made deliveries to northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have pursued a major offensive.
The United Nations has said the amount of aid entering Gaza has plummeted to its lowest level in a year and has repeatedly accused Israel of blocking attempts to deliver humanitarian supplies, particularly to the north of the enclave.
Under the US Foreign Assistance Act, the president is required to halt security assistance to any country that restricts US humanitarian aid.
The US is Israel’s key political and military backer and recently deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, along with soldiers to operate it.
Meanwhile, Israeli President, Isaac Herzog is scheduled to meet Biden later on Tuesday.
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