Report: US agencies determined Israel blocked humanitarian aid to Gaza, Blinken reversed findings
Washington DC (Quds News Network)- In a recent revelation, two prominent US government bodies responsible for humanitarian assistance concluded that Israel deliberately blocked aid deliveries to Gaza, as per internal documents obtained by
ProPublica. These findings by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration challenged Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s stance. Blinken later reversed these findings before Congress in order to allow the continued flow of arms to Israel.
According to ProPublica’s investigation, USAID submitted a detailed 17-page memo to Blinken in late April, proving that Israel is obstructing US-backed humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. The memo reported instances of Israeli interference, such as the bombing of ambulances, hospitals, and other vital facilities, along with the blocking of supply deliveries. Despite these warnings, Blinken told Congress on May 10, “We do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting” humanitarian assistance.
The implications of these findings are significant, as US law mandates cutting military aid to any country that hinders US-supported humanitarian efforts. Israel relies heavily on American military support, particularly in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The memo described a dire situation in Gaza, where lifesaving food and supplies sat less than 30 miles from the border. In one example, Israel blocked the transfer of flour meant to feed 1.5 million Palestinians, citing concerns about the recipient, the UN’s Palestinian branch, which Israel falsely accused of having ties with Hamas without providing evidence. USAID warned that Israel’s actions contributed to a looming famine in Gaza, with health workers reporting dozens of children dying of starvation.
Despite these warnings, Blinken and other top US officials dismissed the conclusions. Jack Lew, the US ambassador to Israel, reportedly sided with Israel’s war cabinet, recommending that military aid continue despite acknowledging Israeli interference with humanitarian deliveries. ProPublica noted that the internal debate within the Biden administration highlighted a deep rift, with some officials, including a senior civil military adviser, resigning in protest over the administration’s refusal to acknowledge Israel’s role in the crisis.
In March, emails obtained by ProPublica revealed that USAID officials warned Blinken that Israel’s actions violated the Foreign Assistance Act, which governs US military aid and assistance. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration also echoed this concern, stating that almost $830 million in US taxpayer funds meant for Israeli military aid should be frozen due to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid. Despite these legal arguments, the US government has continued military support for Israel.
International humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm over the ongoing aid crisis in Gaza. The United Nations has declared a famine in parts of the territory, and Oxfam’s Scott Paul called the situation “a farce,” pointing to the emergence of diseases like polio as evidence of the aid blockages’ devastating impact.
Quds News Network (QNN) is the largest independent and comprehensive Palestinian youth electronic news network.
qudsnen.co
