Israel enforces famine in Gaza as Blinken’s ’30-day deadline’ approaches

Alameen Templeton
Famine is stalking Gaza as humanitarian aid plunges to its lowest level since December, to a mere 8,805 tons this month, despite the US’s 30-day deadline to enhance humanitarian supplies and growing international calls to stop the genocide.
The “deadline” is just one day away, but its one of US president Joe Biden’s infamous “red lines” that Israel routinely ignores. Even Genocide Joe doesn’t take them seriously. His own administration even has ignored reports by its own agencies, which in April found and reported that “Israel” had blocked food and medicine shipments. America’s over-hyped “Leahy Laws” supposedly ban US arms supplies to countries committing genocide.
So, no one’s counting on the United States to end its elbows-deep commitment to continuing the genocide – at least, until January 20 when Donald Trump takes office.
‘End the genocide now!’
But a growing number of nations have had enough and they’re being rallied by an unexpected source – Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS).
The 57-member OIC and 22-member Arab League is gathering in a joint summit in Saudi Arabia, with most national heads in attendance. They’re demanding an end to Israel’s massacres and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Middle East Eye reports.
But it’s unlikely the two organisations will take any effective action, certainly not in time to help Gaza’s starving population. MBS has however been taking a higher profile stance against the genocide ever since Israel threatened to start targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure in the Arabian Gulf.
At a conference involving 90 nations 10 days ago, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said openly: “Genocide is happening (in Gaza) with the goal of evicting the Palestinian people from their land, which Saudi Arabia rejects”.
“If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023,” the Famine Review Committee told The Guardian.
In the last few days, Israeli officials have enlarged the authorized “humanitarian zone” in Gaza, but continue to ignore US demands for more humanitarian aid to be allowed through.
Last month, on October 13, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called for a minimum of 350 daily truckloads of essential supplies to be allowed in. Supplies have never come close to that level.
By the end of October, the average daily truckload count entering Gaza stood at only 71.
Aid agencies say 600 trucks per day are needed to meet basic needs.
‘Almost nothing getting in’
Aid workers describe Gaza as “apocalyptic,” with over 80% of the population displaced. “The small street markets that sprung up have all gone. There’s a bit of flour, some washing-up liquid … a kilo of tomatoes costs nearly $20 [£16]. Even if you have money there is nothing to buy. Everyone is going hungry again,” an aid official on the ground said.
Israeli officials deny accusations of deliberately restricting aid, instead blaming humanitarian agencies. But they lie, routinely and openly, Al-Mayadeen reports.
In October, Israeli authorities blocked or hindered 58% of aid shipments, aid agencies say. And Israeli settlers have damaged and obstructed shipments for Gaza.
Haaretz revealed Monday Israeli soldiers are allowing armed settlers to loot aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip and demand protection money from aid groups.
The newspaper noted settlers are obstructing the main road at the Karem Abu Salem crossing, an area fully controlled by the Israeli military.
Famine ‘imminent’ in Gaza
Israel says it has opened more roads into Gaza, but US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller last week said it was not enough for “Israel” to open new roads allowing aid into Gaza “if more humanitarian assistance isn’t going through those roads.”
The crisis is most acute in northern Gaza, where towns like Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia have been under siege for over a month. Haaretz has accused the Israeli government of committing “ethnic cleansing” in northern Gaza, calling it “not the Generals’ Plan, but Netanyahu’s Plan” – a reference to the fact that Israel’s generals believe its time to end the Holocaust.
The US claimed that it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that Israeli actions in northern Gaza do not reflect a “policy of starvation.”
That hasn’t made any difference.
A UN official explained: “People in north Gaza have got nothing. Every single day from 3 October to end of month, UN asked to take stuff into Jabaliya, but [was] turned down.”
‘Catastrophic situation’
In a rare alert, the independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) said last week: “Immediate action, within days not weeks, is required from all actors who are directly taking part in the conflict, or have influence on its conduct, to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation.”
“If no effective action is taken by stakeholders with influence, the scale of this looming catastrophe is likely to dwarf anything we have seen so far in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023,” the FRC committee said.