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US says Israel must show no Gaza ‘policy of starvation’

The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in Gaza, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

U.S. Monitoring Israeli Actions in Gaza to Ensure Compliance with Humanitarian Law

U.S. Concerns Over Israel’s Policies in Northern Gaza

The United States is closely monitoring Israel’s military activities in northern Gaza to ensure that its operations do not amount to a “policy of starvation.” This position was articulated by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a Security Council session on Wednesday. Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that such a policy would be “horrific and unacceptable,” with serious legal consequences under both international and U.S. law.

“The Government of Israel has stated that food and essential supplies will not be cut off,” she noted, adding that the U.S. will ensure that Israel’s actions on the ground align with this commitment. This marks a significant shift in U.S. rhetoric toward its long-time ally, Israel.

U.S. Demands for Humanitarian Improvement

U.S. officials have reportedly informed Israel that steps must be taken in the next 30 days to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Failure to do so may result in restrictions on U.S. military aid. The U.S. has called for an immediate surge in the provision of food and supplies to the enclave, as well as for humanitarian pauses to allow the delivery of aid and essential services such as vaccinations.

Israel’s Emergency Meeting on Aid Expansion

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to three officials present at the meeting, a decision to increase aid was anticipated. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, while acknowledging the humanitarian challenges, stated that aid delivery was ongoing, but blamed Hamas for hindering its distribution.

“Israel, along with its international partners, continues to send aid to Gaza, but it will not reach those in need as long as Hamas controls the region,” Danon said, accusing Hamas of “weaponizing the humanitarian situation.” Hamas has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that Israel is responsible for the shortages.

International Concerns About Humanitarian Access

The United Nations has raised ongoing concerns about the limited access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. According to the U.N., no food aid reached northern Gaza between October 2 and October 15. Joyce Msuya, the acting U.N. aid chief, condemned the lack of humanitarian access, calling it “unconscionable” given the dire conditions faced by civilians in the region.

Msuya reported that less than a third of the 286 humanitarian missions coordinated with Israel over the past two weeks were completed without major incidents. She also highlighted the challenges faced by aid workers, including delays caused by Israeli forces, citing an example where a team reached hospitals in northern Gaza after multiple impediments. Medical staff managed to keep a critically ill child alive by manually pumping oxygen for over seven hours due to delays at an Israeli checkpoint.

Israeli Defense of Its Humanitarian Efforts

In defense of Israel’s actions, Ambassador Danon cited the recent medical mission as an example of the country’s commitment to humanitarian law, claiming that Israel goes “above and beyond” its legal obligations. He also noted the launch of a second round of polio vaccinations targeting nearly 600,000 children under ten, carried out by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

However, Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama questioned the effectiveness of Israel’s humanitarian efforts. He asked, “How is it possible that we can vaccinate these children, yet we cannot feed them?” suggesting that the ongoing situation may not be the result of collateral damage but a deliberate policy of starvation.

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