In a disturbing development, Israel has been launching strikes on humanitarian sites, including hospitals and aid organizations, in the Gaza Strip, despite receiving information about their locations from the Biden administration. The U.S. has been providing the Israeli government with GPS coordinates and other details of medical facilities and movements of aid groups in Gaza for over a month, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

While it remains unclear whether the U.S. has compiled a formal "no-strike" list or if the aid is being provided on an ad hoc basis, the fact that Israel has targeted these humanitarian facilities raises questions about the political influence Washington holds over its ally. This divide becomes particularly stark when considering that the aim of such assistance is to protect aid workers, a vital aspect of international humanitarian law.

Despite public statements from U.S. officials emphasizing the challenges faced by aid groups operating in Gaza due to Hamas' use of civilians as human shields and tunnels beneath hospitals, Israel's attacks on these vital facilities persist. The operations conducted by Israeli forces near or on these aid sites have not only resulted in the destruction of buildings but have also caused delays in the delivery of critical supplies, including fuel.

Aid groups working in hospitals have expressed their frustration, stating that Israel's actions have made it nearly impossible to continue providing medical care to patients, including premature babies. Dr. Amber Alayyan, a physician with Doctors Without Borders, described the situation as unprecedented, with attacks targeting not only safe structures like hospitals and schools but also depriving the entire population of essential resources like food, water, and fuel for over a month.

The lack of a functioning deconfliction channel between Israel and aid groups has raised concerns among those working in the region. Aid group officials point out that Israel has implemented deconfliction practices during previous conflicts, making the absence of such a mechanism unnecessary and unjustifiable.

The U.S. is not the only entity providing information to Israel regarding the locations of aid groups. The United Nations serves as the main clearinghouse for humanitarian deconfliction, and humanitarian organizations in Gaza primarily rely on the U.N. system to share their coordinates. In an effort to prevent further civilian casualties, these groups also send their information directly to the U.S. and Israeli authorities.

Efforts to protect aid workers have been met with limited success, with Israel often defining targets as worthy of strikes despite the presence of humanitarian sites nearby. This disconnect reveals a divergence in defining collateral damage and military necessity between the Israeli government and international humanitarian organizations.

U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, David Satterfield, acknowledged that more needed to be done to ensure the safety of aid workers. However, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has hindered progress, with any potential pause in fighting expected to be short-lived. The Israeli government has given no indication of adjusting its targeting strategy after any potential agreement.

As the Israel-Hamas war enters its second month, the distressing reality emerges that the parties involved in the conflict, including Hamas militants, must spare the vital lifelines provided by aid groups to Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire.

Both humanitarian organizations and U.S. officials agree that improvements are needed in the U.N. notification system, as evidenced by the higher number of aid worker casualties in Gaza this year compared to past conflicts. Despite efforts to streamline and improve the system, over 50 facilities have been hit or damaged, underscoring the urgency for better coordination between all parties involved in the conflict.

It remains to be seen whether increased cooperation between the U.N. and Israeli government will lead to enhanced use of the notification system and better protection for humanitarian sites. However, the ongoing attacks on aid facilities in Gaza highlight the imperative for immediate action to prevent further loss of life and destruction.

(Note: This news article is based solely on the information provided by the user and does not include any additional context or outside sources.)