Biden Administration Decides Not to Withhold Weapons from Israel Despite Gaza Humanitarian Concerns

The Biden administration has announced that it will not withhold weapons shipments to Israel, despite the expiration of a 30-day deadline for Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The decision follows a US State Department briefing where spokesperson Vedant Patel acknowledged that Israel had taken some steps to comply with US demands, but not all.

In October, the US had warned Israel that failure to meet certain conditions would lead to a halt in weapon transfers. These conditions, outlined in a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, included allowing at least 350 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza each day and opening additional crossings for aid delivery. However, by the end of October, aid levels remained far below these benchmarks, and access to northern Gaza was still heavily restricted.

Despite these concerns, Patel confirmed that the US had not found Israel in violation of US law. He credited the intervention of the United States for ensuring that some of the humanitarian aid measures, such as the reopening of key crossings and the resumption of aid to northern Gaza, were implemented. However, aid groups have reported that Israel has failed to meet many of the requirements, with only partial compliance in a few areas.

The Biden administration has stressed that it will continue to monitor Israel’s compliance with US law and hold Israel accountable if further violations occur. While the administration has consistently supported Israel's right to defend itself, it has also urged Israel to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza’s civilian population.

This decision comes as the US continues to provide substantial military aid to Israel, while also pressing for more action on the humanitarian front. With the conflict in Gaza ongoing, the international community remains concerned about the humanitarian conditions in the region.