Speaking at an emergency aid conference in Jordan, Blinken called on other nations to contribute and help support the war-torn region.

"The crisis in Gaza is immense," Blinken emphasized, revealing that only one third of the United Nations' current appeal for aid has been funded, leaving a significant shortfall of approximately $2 billion to $3 billion. He urged countries, particularly those with the capacity to give generously, to step up their contributions. While he did not specifically name any countries, Blinken noted that some nations have expressed concern about the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza but have provided very little, or no aid at all.

The new $404 million funding from the United States will be directed towards critical areas such as food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated over the past eight months due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli government's restrictions on access and the limited flow of essential items into Gaza have further exacerbated the crisis.

Blinken acknowledged that Israel has taken some important steps in recent months to mitigate obstacles to aid delivery, including opening more crossings. However, he stressed that more needs to be done. The US Secretary of State urged the Israeli government to expedite the inspection of trucks, clearly define and shorten the list of prohibited goods, streamline visa processing for aid workers, establish more efficient channels for humanitarian groups to coordinate with IDF operations, provide necessary resources for infrastructure repairs, and reduce civilian casualties.

Blinken reiterated that the primary obstacle to achieving a ceasefire and alleviating the humanitarian suffering is Hamas. He called on all governments, multilateral institutions, and humanitarian organizations to exert pressure on the group to accept the proposed ceasefire agreement.

As the international community grapples with the dire situation in Gaza, Blinken's announcement of increased US aid aims to provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian population. Efforts to address the crisis continue as countries are urged to contribute to bridge the funding gap and support the delivery of aid to those affected by the ongoing conflict.