US not limiting military assistance to Israel, but may act later

Washington warned Israel last month that military aid could be limited until progress was made. It did so based on Memorandum 20, which links such aid to humanitarian actions.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF NOVEMBER 12, 2024 21:23

US military personnel air-drop aid parcels over Gaza, March 12, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/JEHAD SHELBAK)

The United States is not limiting military aid to Israel given that Israel has taken steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

“When it comes to humanitarian assistance, we have seen some steps being taken,” Patel said as the 30-day deadline passed by which Israel had to meet certain requirements in Gaza to avoid the triggering of a mechanism by which military aid would be limited.

Washington warned Israel last month that military aid could be limited until progress was made. It did so based on Memorandum 20, which links such aid to humanitarian actions.

Patel spoke just days after the independent Famine Review Committee of experts assessed that “There is a "strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas" of the northern Gaza Strip.

"Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have an influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation," the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said in a rare alert.

Transfer of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza strip through the “Kisufim” passage (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Israel is not off the hook 

On Tuesday, however, Patel declared that enough progress had been made so that Israel would avoid, for the moment, any restrictions on aid.

He stressed that this did not let Israel off the hook and that the Biden administration would be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that additional measures were taken.

“There need to be some additional steps that are also taken but most importantly, we need to see this, these kinds of efforts, sustained over a long period of time,” he said.

“If we do not see consistent progress, we will enforce US law and we will make sure we are doing so appropriately,” Patel explained.