Official statements from the U.S. government or relevant authorities

Blinken and Biden Contradict U.S. Agencies on Israel Blocking Aid to Gaza, $830M in Arms at Stake

Sep 24, 2024, 01:13 PM

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress that the Israeli government was not restricting humanitarian aid, despite contrary findings from two U.S. government bodies. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration had determined that Israel had deliberately blocked aid, including food and medicine, from reaching Gaza, where millions starve. These findings led USAID officials to recommend pausing additional arms sales to Israel. However, Blinken's statements to Congress allowed military assistance to continue flowing to Israel. Emails obtained by ProPublica reveal that the head of the State Department’s refugees bureau suggested freezing $830 million earmarked for weapons and bombs to Israel. President Biden also publicly supported Blinken's stance.