US keeps close eye on Israeli aids to Gaza, says ‘Proof is in the results’

Israel’s latest steps to extend more humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza have earned praise from the United States.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the US welcomed Israel’s efforts but added that its success would be ‘measured in results’ depending on the improvement in the ground situation.

“Really the proof is in the results, and we will see those unfold in the coming days, in the coming weeks,” Blinken said in Belgium.

Notably, US President Joe Biden had threatened on Thursday to levy conditions on its support to Israel’s offensive in Gaza given it did not take concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of aid workers and civilians.

The move, coming as a stern response to an Israeli attack that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers, is the first time the US government has sought to leverage its aid to regulate behaviour of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

On its part, Israel assured that it would open the Erez crossing point, closed since October 7, 2023 when the attack by Hamas on Israel ignited the conflict, and will also increase aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) urged Israel to revoke a ban on the agency ensuring food supplies to parts of northern Gaza.

“The clock is ticking fast towards famine and UNRWA must be allowed to do its work, and reach the north on a regular basis with food and nutrition supplies,” an UNRWA official said.

Asked on Israel’s action after Biden’s shift in position, Blinken told journalists Washington will be “closely looking” at specific metrics such as the number of trucks making their way into the Gaza Strip, the distribution of supplies inside the enclave, especially in the north that has been largely cut off from aid since the war began.

Blinken said the United States was particularly concerned by “indicators of potential famine”.

Echoing a US call for Israel to investigate the strike on the aid workers, Blinken said Washington wanted to see accountability for the attack.

Meanwhile, Israel has reiterated that the strike was ‘unintentional’.

Blinken said a “horrific number” of innocent civilians had been killed in the war, and Israel needed to make sure the population is protected from its strikes by “maximising every effort to protect civilians.”

“We just can’t have so many people caught in the crossfire killed or injured going forward,” he added.