Israel has failed to meet the United States' requests to open greater humanitarian access to Gaza, international aid groups reported on Tuesday. The U.S. government had urged Israel the previous month to increase the delivery of food and other emergency supplies to the enclave and had set a 30-day deadline that expired on Tuesday.
A letter dated October 13 and signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested Israel, among other things, to allow the entry of at least 350 trucks of goods to Gaza daily, open a fifth crossing into the enclave, move people from tent camps on the coast inland before winter, and ensure access for humanitarian groups to the northern area, the most affected.
Israel has barely allowed aid to reach Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians have refused to comply with evacuation orders. In October, only 34,000 tons of food entered, less than half of the previous month, according to Israeli data.
UN agencies note that even fewer supplies are reaching due to Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting, and rampant anarchy, making delivery and distribution of materials difficult in Gaza. In October, an average of 57 trucks entered Gaza daily, and in the first week of November, the number increased to 81.
Despite some steps taken by Israel to improve the situation, such as a tactical delivery of food and water in Beit Hanoun on Tuesday, and the approval of an increase in aid for Gaza, the country has not fully complied with Washington's demands.
Humanitarian conditions in Gaza have been described as the worst in the ongoing 13-month war in the region. Around 90% of the population has been displaced from their homes, and hundreds of thousands are in overcrowded camps with scant basic supplies. Despite U.S. pressure to allow greater humanitarian access, aid levels continue to be insufficient.
In a report prepared by eight international aid organizations, 19 measures were detailed to meet U.S. demands, of which Israel failed to meet 15 and partially complied with 4. It is expected that the opening of a fifth crossing will improve the access of supplies to the central and southern parts of the enclave.
Despite efforts to increase the flow of aid, the distribution of supplies is hindered by the inability of the UN and other agencies to collect incoming aid in Gaza, leading to bottlenecks and looting by Hamas and organized crime groups in the region.
A desalination plant is being considered for opening in Deir al Balah, in the center of the Strip, in addition to other efforts to bring in winter supplies and improve the humanitarian situation in the region.
