 UNDER PRESSUREBiden WH threatens military aid to Israel over Gaza Kent Nishimura/Getty Images Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demand Israel address the worsening humanitarian conditions in GazaBy Lahav Harkov Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced intensifying pressure on two fronts on Tuesday, clashing with French President Emmanuel Macron over the war in Lebanon as the Biden administration threatened to cut weapons shipments if Israel doesn’t supply additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote a letter Monday to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer demanding Israel address the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza by expediting the delivery of aid — or face the possibility of losing military assistance. “We are now writing to underscore the U.S. government’s deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and seek urgent and sustained actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory,” Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 13, in which they noted that September was the month in which less humanitarian aid reached Gaza than any other in the past year. Within 30 days, they wrote, Israel must “surge all forms of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza” by allowing 350 trucks in a day, instituting humanitarian pauses in fighting and other measures. The letter added: “Failure to demonstrate a sustained commitment to implementing and maintaining these measures may have implications for U.S. policy under NSM-20 and relevant U.S. law (weapons supply).” You May Have MissedFOLLOW THE MONEYTreasury Department designates anti-Israel group Samidoun as ‘sham charity’ with ties to terrorismThe designation builds on U.S. efforts to target terror funding networks connected to Hamas. CAMPUS BEATCampuses confront resurgence of anti-Israel activism after Oct. 7 anniversary The protesters have become more extreme, often using violent rhetoric, but they’re not as widespread as they were in the spring. Read more...      |
10.15.2024
WH threatens military aid to Israel over Gaza
