US pressures Israel over Gaza aid as Nov 13 deadline approaches

The clock is ticking and undoubtedly adding pressure on Israeli authorities to increase humanitarian aid delivery to the Gaza Strip ahead of the impending Nov. 13 deadline set by the U.S. government.

If Israel fails to demonstrate credible improvements in the supply and distribution of aid to innocent civilians in Gaza, it could mean a severe reduction in the supply of weaponry from the U.S. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly delivered a “sharp” message in a phone call on Friday with recently-appointed Israeli Defense Secretary Israel Katz as he reiterated the importance of increasing aid to the Gazans.

According to the readout of their call, Austin expressed “the need to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza.”

The number of humanitarian aid trucks entering Gaza has significantly increased, but Israel is still falling short of the daily target of 350 trucks. According to The Times of Israel, only 229 trucks were allowed into Gaza on Tuesday. With the recent promise from Israel to open the Kissufim crossing, there will now be five border points allowing aid to reach Gaza, up from four. 

The concern of Katz and other Israeli officials is that the aid does not always reach the civilians who are in desperate need. It has long been known to global leaders that Hamas confiscates the supplies brought in by the trucks, in turn reselling the goods to the civilians for much higher prices, driving inflation through the roof in an already struggling Gazan economy. 

Israel is attempting to work with Arab states to conceptualize a better solution, and how to best deliver aid to noncombatants and those most vulnerable in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this year, Egypt and Jordan joined with the U.S. and others to help distribute aid via airdrops. However, that attempt received criticism when Gazans were both injured and killed by the heavy boxes dropping from the sky.

The Times of Israel reported that "over 39,000 trucks carrying more than 840,000 tons of food have entered Gaza since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023."

Israeli officials will soon learn whether their efforts have been enough in the eyes of the United States or if they will face a strong reprimand and a reduction in weapon supplies as warned by the current U.S. administration.