Violence in Gaza and surrounding regions has surged as Israeli airstrikes continue, with the death toll in Gaza reaching over 42,000 since October 7.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 65 people were killed and 140 wounded in the latest 24-hour period. Israel has maintained its siege of northern Gaza for 12 days, a move rights groups are condemning as reaching a “horrifying level of atrocity.”
In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike hit a government building in the town of Nabatieh, killing five people, including the town’s mayor. Attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs have also intensified, drawing U.S. criticism over the scale of Israeli operations in the Lebanese capital.
The Biden administration responded by issuing a stern warning to Israel and calling for “urgent and sustained actions,” urging an improvement in humanitarian access to Gaza.
In a letter sent on October 13 to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin cautioned that U.S. military aid to Israel could be at risk if conditions do not improve. They requested Israel facilitate aid delivery by allowing at least 350 trucks daily through all major crossings, opening a fifth crossing, and implementing humanitarian pauses across Gaza.
Aid to Gaza has reportedly dropped by more than 50% since this spring, with September seeing the lowest aid deliveries in over a year. The U.S. demands include improved security for humanitarian corridors and assistance for displaced civilians, especially in the Al-Mawasi zone.
Despite the warning, U.S. support for Israel remains strong, with recent weapons packages and additional troops sent to the region. Israeli authorities appear to be responding to international pressure, with COGAT, Israel’s agency for Palestinian territories, reporting 30 trucks of aid entered Gaza through the Erez Crossing, pledging to allow continued aid while continuing military operations against Hamas.
As Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza intensifies, the United Nations World Food Programme has warned of a “disastrous impact” on food security for Palestinian families, with over one million displaced Palestinians sheltering in the south.
