US warns Israel against ‘policy of starvation’ in Gaza

[Lauren Taylor]

THE UNITED STATES SAYS IT WILL BE WATCHING ISRAEL’S ACTIONS CLOSELY WHILE IT’S OPERATING ITS GROUND OFFENSIVE IN NORTHERN GAZA TO ENSURE ISRAEL DOES NOT HAVE A ‘POLICY OF STARVATION’ IN THE REGION.

JUST DAYS AFTER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SENT A LETTER TO ISRAELI OFFICIALS DEMANDING AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA – ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, CONVENED AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE PALESTINIAN ENCLAVE.

U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N, LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO ISRAEL THAT IT MUST DO MORE TO ADDRESS THE “CATASTROPHIC HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA.”

“A ‘POLICY OF STARVATION’ IN NORTHERN GAZA WOULD BE HORRIFIC AND UNACCEPTABLE AND WOULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND U.S. LAW,” U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N., LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD SAID. “THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL HAS SAID THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR POLICY. THAT FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES WILL NOT BE CUT OFF. AND WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE THAT ISRAEL’S ACTIONS ON THE GROUND MATCH THIS STATEMENT.”

THOMAS-GREENFIELD NOTED THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT DOES NOT HAVE A STARVATION POLICY AND FOOD AND ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES WOULD NOT BE CUT OFF.

THE BIDEN ADMIN LETTER STATED ISRAEL MUST IMPROVE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS TO AVOID LEGAL ACTION INVOLVING US MILITARY AID.

IT IS AGAINST UNITED STATES LAW FOR THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE SECURITY ASSISTANCE OR ARMS SALES TO ANY COUNTRY IF THE PRESIDENT IS AWARE THAT ITS GOVERNMENT RESTRICTS U.S. HUMANITARIAN AID.

THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES HAVE BEEN POSTING VIDEOS ON X, CLAIMING THEY’RE ALLOWING HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS FULL OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES INTO THE GAZA EVERYDAY.

ISRAEL’S U.N. AMBASSADOR DANNY DANON STATED THAT THE GAZA ISSUE ISN’T DUE TO A LACK OF AID, AS OVER 1 MILLION TONS WERE DELIVERED LAST YEAR. HE ACCUSED HAMAS OF HIJACKING THIS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.