A 17-page memo from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) detailed instances of Israel deliberately interfering with humanitarian aid efforts including the killing of aid workers, bombing hospitals, and denying trucks carrying food and medicine from entering Gaza , where the United Nations has declared a “ full-blown famine ” in the northern region.
In April, USAID sent their findings to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the State Department’s refugees bureau determination was made known to top diplomats. U.S.
law requires that the government suspend weapons shipments to any country blocking U.S.-backed humanitarian assistance.
Despite the memo and list of evidence cited, Blinken rejected the assessment, ProPublica reported on Tuesday. Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, President Biden and his administration have continually emphasized its commitment to a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza.
Since the Israeli cabinet declared war against Hamas, however, the U.S. has delivered more than 50,000 tons of missiles, artillery, and other military equipment, Israel’s Defense Ministry stated last month .
ProPublica wrote that both Blinken and the Biden administration did not accept the findings from the U.S. government’s top two authorities on humanitarian aid.
In Blinken’s statement to Congress on May 10, he said, “We do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitar.
