US says Gaza conditions remain unchanged ahead of deadline for Israel to act

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday said the situation in northern Gaza has not significantly turned around, days before the end of a 30-day period set in an Oct. 13 letter to Israeli authorities demanding improvement in the humanitarian situation or facing potential consequences.

“As of today, the situation has not significantly turned around. We have seen an increase in some measurements. You've seen increase in the number of crossings that are open, but just if you look at the stipulated recommendations in the letter. Those have not been met,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

Miller said the humanitarian situation in Gaza "has not been good enough for some time," and that conditions has not "improved sufficiently" since the US sent the letter. He also noted that the 30-day period is not yet over.

When pressed on what consequences Israel will face at the conclusion of the 30-day period outlined in the letter, Miller refused to respond, saying: “I do not know what the factual situation that we will face in that period will be.”

“We will continue to follow the law,” he added.

In the letter, the US urged Israel to improve Gaza's humanitarian conditions within 30 days, or risk US military aid. The letter, signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, conveyed “deep concern” over Gaza's deteriorating situation and urged immediate, sustained action by Israel to address it.

"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," Austin and Blinken wrote in the letter to their Israeli counterparts.

The officials said their departments "must" under US law "continually assess your government's adherence to" Israel's promises not to obstruct US and US-supported international aid.

Under the US Foreign Assistance Act, military aid must be restricted if a country, like Israel, obstructs the entry of US humanitarian aid or violates international law unless national security exemptions apply.