According to UN estimates, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has claimed over 35,000 lives in Gaza, including 7,797 minors, 4,959 women, and 1,924 elderly individuals.
Since the outbreak of war in October last year, Israel’s extensive airstrikes have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 Palestinians.
In light of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the US—Israel’s key ally—has issued a 30-day ultimatum for Israel to improve conditions or risk a halt to military aid. This warning came from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a letter to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. They emphasized that humanitarian assistance to Gaza has sharply declined in recent months, raising concerns about Israel’s commitment to humanitarian efforts and the lawful use of US-supplied weapons.
The letter stated, “We are writing to underscore the US government’s deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and seek urgent actions by your government this month to reverse this trajectory.”
The US officials highlighted that Israeli evacuation orders have forced 1.7 million people into the overcrowded al-Mawasi area, putting them at high risk due to extreme conditions. They noted that Israeli actions, including the halting of commercial imports and restrictions on humanitarian movements, have significantly worsened the situation.
Israel had previously committed to compliance with a National Security Memorandum (NSM) from Biden’s administration, which applies to all US security assistance recipients. The recent military operations by Israel have also resulted in at least 50 additional casualties.
Countries traditionally allied with Israel have condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza, with Australia labeling the humanitarian situation in northern Gaza as “unacceptable.” The conflict, which escalated following the October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian militants on Israeli communities, has seen a significant increase in violence, with the UN reporting the death toll rising to over 35,000 by May 13, 2024.