**US Warns Israel: Improve Humanitarian Aid Access in Gaza or Risk Military Assistance Cut**

In an unprecedented move, the United States has issued a 30-day ultimatum to Israel, demanding an increase in humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Failure to comply could result in a reduction of US military support, officials revealed. The ultimatum came in the form of a letter, reportedly the strongest written warning from the US to its close ally, sent on Sunday amidst renewed Israeli military actions in northern Gaza.

The contents of the letter, signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, detail the US government's profound concern regarding the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Highlighting the severity, the letter states that last month, Israel denied or obstructed almost 90% of humanitarian movements between Gaza's north and south. The communication underscores that US laws may prohibit military assistance to nations that hinder the distribution of US humanitarian aid.

Israeli officials have not commented on the matter. They assert that their military operations target Hamas operatives in the north and do not prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid. However, a report from Cogat, the Israeli military authority overseeing Gaza crossings, noted that 30 lorries carrying World Food Programme aid had recently entered northern Gaza via the Erez crossing. This marked a significant development after a two-week absence of food aid, which left 400,000 Palestinians in dire need.

The US is the principal supplier of arms to Israel, which has heavily relied on American aircraft, guided bombs, missiles, and shells in its year-long conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The directive from Washington, confirmed by the State Department and initially reported by Axios, calls for Israel to implement several key measures immediately. These include permitting a minimum of 350 lorries of aid to enter Gaza daily, through all major crossings and establishing a new crossing, and allowing movement inland for residents in the overcrowded al-Mawasi area.

Addressing the press, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed the letter’s authenticity and emphasized that the US government aims to see substantial improvements in the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Although Miller refrained from detailing the potential consequences if Israel fails to increase aid access, he stressed that compliance with US laws is non-negotiable.

Israeli military actions in Rafah and other regions have previously led to halting specific US arms shipments under President Joe Biden's administration, who faced political backlash from various fronts for these temporary measures. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently highlighted the dire conditions faced by northern Gaza families due to the Israeli offensive that started ten days ago, intensifying international focus on the crisis.

As the deadline looms, the international community watches closely to see if Israel will heed the US's demands and take substantial steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The next 30 days are poised to be crucial in shaping the future of US-Israel relations and the plight of countless Gazan civilians.