The US government has called on Israel to significantly improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip within 30 days. Otherwise, Washington may reconsider its military support for Israel. CNN and the "Washington Post” cite a letter sent by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The US State Department has confirmed that this letter has been sent.
In it, Blinken and Austin express "deep concern" on the situation in Gaza. They are calling on the Israeli government for "urgent and sustained action" to improve the situation, writes ARD. The civilian population must have access to food and other essential goods, they say. According to the letter, the volume of aid deliveries has fallen by more than 50% since the spring, reaching its lowest level since the beginning of the year in September.
UN calls for aid in Lebanon
The humanitarian situation has worsened not only in Gaza, but also in Lebanon, where Israel is also in conflict with Hezbollah. Because of this, UN organizations have called for increased aid. The families are living in dangerous conditions, explained the deputy executive directors of UNICEF Ted Chaiban and the World Food Program Karl Skau after their visit to Lebanon, writes ARD.
Their statement said many children were victims of attacks, lost relatives and homes and could no longer attend school. In addition, nearly 190,000 displaced persons are currently seeking refuge in over 1,000 centers. Hundreds of thousands of others are seeking shelter with loved ones. A total of about 1.2 million people are affected.
Attacks against Lebanon do not stop
At the same time, attacks on Lebanon continue. Early this morning, the Israeli army struck the southern part of the capital, Beirut, for the first time in nearly a week. On Monday, a village in northern Lebanon with a predominantly Christian population was attacked. There, a building where internally displaced people had taken shelter was hit. The Israeli military said the attack was aimed at a target linked to Hezbollah. The case is under investigation.
The US government also criticized the attacks of the Israeli military in the area of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, notes ARD. "We have stated unequivocally to Israel that we reject their almost daily attacks in densely populated areas of Beirut," said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Although Israel has the right to conduct "targeted operations" against the infrastructure of the pro-Iranian militia Hezbollah, he must also ensure that the lives of civilians, UN peacekeepers and Lebanese forces will not be endangered, Kirby also said.
Critics express doubts
The so-called "Leahy Law" plays a major role for the US in matters such as the one in the Middle East at the moment. It prohibits Washington from providing military aid to countries whose armed forces are involved in serious human rights abuses. Critics raise doubts that Israel is complying with this requirement. According to human rights organizations, the blockade of aid supplies, airstrikes on residential areas and the lack of protection for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip violate basic human rights standards.
Israel rejects these accusations and emphasizes that its operations are in accordance with international law. The debate over US policy toward Israel is also gaining in importance in the run-up to the Nov. 5 presidential election. The deadline set by Blinken and Austin in their letter expires after Election Day.