US gives Israel 30 days to up Gaza aid or risk military cuts

The United States told Israel it must take steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within 30 days or face potential restrictions on US military aid. The notice comes to an end after the US presidential election on November 5.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote to Israeli officials on Sunday demanding concrete measures to address the worsening situation in the Palestinian enclave amid a renewed Israeli offensive in northern Gaza, US officials said on Tuesday.

Failure to do so could impact US policy, said the letter, which was first reported by Israeli News 12.

The letter comes as the US president election is set to take place within 20 days. 

"We are particularly concerned that recent actions by the Israeli government ... are contributing to an accelerated deterioration in the conditions in Gaza," said a copy of the letter posted by an Axios reporter on X.

The letter cited restrictions Israel was imposing, including those on commercial imports, the denial of most humanitarian movements between northern and southern Gaza, and "burdensome and excessive" restrictions on what goods can enter Gaza.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the letter "was not meant as a threat" but reiterated the urgency of increasing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

"It appears to us that they (the Israelis) are taking this seriously," Kirby said of the letter, without elaborating.

An Israeli official in Washington said the letter had been received and was being reviewed. “Israel takes this matter seriously and intends to address the concerns raised in this letter with our American counterparts,” the official said.

The letter is the clearest ultimatum yet to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government since the Gaza conflict began, raising the prospect of a shift in Washington's support for Israel.

The letter outlined specific steps Israel must take within 30 days, including enabling a minimum of 350 trucks to enter Gaza per day, instituting pauses in fighting to allow aid delivery and rescinding evacuation orders to Palestinian civilians when there is no operational need.

"Failure to demonstrate a sustained commitment to implementing and maintaining these measures may have implications for US policy ... and relevant US law," the letter said.

It cited Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits military aid to countries that impede delivery of US humanitarian assistance.

It also cited a National Security Memorandum US President Joe Biden issued in February that requires the State Department to report to Congress on whether it finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.