The United States said on Thursday that Israel has not violated US laws that ban interference with humanitarian supplies to Gaza, as Washington set a 30-day ultimatum for improvement on access to necessary supplies. That deadline elapsed Tuesday as worries deepened over the besieged region’s humanitarian crisis.

US Acknowledges Steps Taken by Israel But Calls for More Progress

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed Tuesday that Israel had taken a few steps to address US concerns so far, like opening the new land crossing and renewed deliveries to northern Gaza, but “he noted more is needed to help ensure a steady increase in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”. While these steps were taken, officials have not mentioned whether aid had reached places such as the Jabalia refugee camp, still under severe siege.

After all this, the United Nations warned that the level of aid to Gaza has stood at its lowest in a year. It is the latest UN-backed report that triggered alarms on an imminent famine in northern Gaza, where for the last month, access to aid was nearly non-existent. The United Nations acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Joyce Msuya, condemned the situation, saying international crimes were being committed because of the denial of aid, particularly in northern Gaza, where fighting continues.

UN Reports Dire Situation in Northern Gaza

On Tuesday, Msuya addressed the United Nations Security Council about the situation that some 75,000 are being held out in northern Gaza with rapidly dwindling supplies of food, water, and medical assistance. Conditions are deteriorating rapidly, and an absence of aid has worsened the humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

US Sticks by Israel Despite Growing Criticism

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken set a 30-day ultimatum to Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Still, this deadline has expired today, and there is no improvement in service in the areas demanded by humanitarian organizations. A letter from Washington is addressed to Israel with an appeal to the country to put an end to the isolation of northern Gaza, where civilians are being deliberately starved, according to reports from aid groups due to military operations by the state.

Despite these urgent appeals from aid agencies, the US has stuck to its decision to support Israel, promising never to disengage itself from providing military aid to the country. In the meanwhile, the Israeli army is said to be waging a renewed battle against Hamas forces in the region. Israel remains adamant that it has increased the volume of aid coming into Gaza; however, it charges that aid agencies have not been of any help in channeling supplies.

Humanitarian Agencies Report Deteriorating Conditions

However, in a press release, a group of eight humanitarian aid agencies operating in Gaza stated that since the deadline began, conditions have worsened. The same aid agencies also revealed that even as supplies start to reach Beit Hanoun and other shelters, Israeli forces have previously made civilians forcibly evacuate those shelters.

Ilze Kehris, the assistant secretary-general for human rights in the United Nations, noted that the “pattern and frequency” of Israel’s airstrikes suggest an intention to target civilians intentionally. Much of Gaza’s death and destruction, Kehris said, was the result of US-made weapons supplied to Israel to help in its fight against Hamas.

Since the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel has been undertaking a military campaign against the dismantling of Hamas. The attack killed about 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Since then, more than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory reported.

The situation remains highly tense, with international calls for Israel to allow more humanitarian access to Gaza while political and military actions continue.