Official announcements from the U.S. government or Department of Defense

Israel Opens Kissufim Crossing but Fails to Meet U.S. Deadline on Gaza Aid, Report Eight Aid Agencies

Nov 12, 2024, 10:41 AM

Israel faces a deadline set by the Biden administration, expiring today, to improve humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip or risk suspension of U.S. military assistance. Despite the 30-day deadline, eight humanitarian aid organizations report that Israel has failed to meet U.S. criteria, with conditions in Gaza worse than at any point in the 13-month-old war and aid levels plummeting to their lowest levels in a year. In response, Israel has opened a new humanitarian crossing at Kissufim to allow more aid trucks into the region, aiming to meet the U.S. demands. However, aid groups assert that these efforts are insufficient. The U.S. must now decide how to respond to Israel's compliance as it considers potential punitive measures.