Israeli officials have reassured their American counterparts that they will take immediate action to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, following an ultimatum from the Biden administration, according to two Israeli sources who spoke to Axios on Wednesday.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israeli leaders, warning that US military aid to Israel could be impacted if Israel does not take steps to improve conditions in Gaza within the next 30 days.

The letter was handed to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

US officials made it clear that the letter was not a warning about withholding weapons but was intended to encourage Israel to change its approach.

Israeli officials at the highest levels acknowledged that, despite their discomfort with the US ultimatum, the worsening conditions in Gaza are in stark contrast to Israel’s official policy on providing humanitarian assistance. They expressed the view that this situation provides an opportunity for Israel to recalibrate its response.

On Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that 50 trucks filled with humanitarian supplies—such as food, water, medical aid, and shelter equipment—had entered northern Gaza from Jordan.

Resuming the delivery of aid from Jordan to northern Gaza, which had been suspended in recent weeks, was one of the stipulations outlined in the US letter.

An Israeli official responded to the American letter on Tuesday, stating that it “has been received and is being thoroughly reviewed by Israeli security officials. Israel takes this matter seriously and intends to address the concerns raised in this letter with our American counterparts.”

Another Israeli official told Axios that some US demands, including reopening border crossings and increasing the number of aid trucks, could be implemented within a matter of days.

However, the official added that certain measures required to meet US demands would need the approval of Israel’s Security Cabinet.

The news of the letter came two days after US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also running for the Democratic presidential nomination, called on Israel to intensify its efforts to allow humanitarian aid into northern Gaza.

Her plea followed claims by the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) that no aid had entered that part of the Gaza Strip for almost two weeks.

“The UN reports that no food has entered northern Gaza in nearly two weeks. Israel must urgently do more to facilitate the flow of aid to those in need. Civilians must be protected and must have access to food, water, and medicine. International humanitarian law must be respected,” Harris wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

When aid does reach Gaza, it is often intercepted by Hamas, as shown in video footage released by Channel 12 News last week.

Of approximately 100 aid trucks that entered Gaza, Hamas seized control of 47 of them.

The footage, filmed in Rafah, shows the trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies, which never make it to the civilians. The terrorists can be seen taking control of the trucks and shooting at anyone who tries to intervene.

The aid seized by Hamas is then sold at inflated prices, with the proceeds used to fund the terror group’s ongoing activities.

{Matzav.com}