US continues to provide weapons aid to Israel

"US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has decided not to suspend military aid to Israel after the Israeli government took steps to improve the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza," Ravid wrote. According to the reporter, "some of Blinken's senior advisers and senior White House officials believe that the ultimatum has worked and prompted Israel to change course. Washington favors continuing to pressure Israel on the issue rather than suspending arms supplies."

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing that Israel had taken a number of steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza at the request of the US. "At this time, we do not assess that Israel is in violation of US law. We will continue to monitor and evaluate Israel's compliance with US law," Patel added. "If we do not continue to see steps in the right direction, we will enforce US law," the spokesperson stressed.

On October 15, the US State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a letter to Israeli leaders on October 13, warning that US arms transfers to Israel could be affected if Israel did not take steps to improve the situation in Gaza within 30 days.

Tensions flared in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Palestinian extremist group Hamas in Gaza unexpectedly crossed into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. In response, Israel declared a state of war; announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians; and began airstrikes on the area and parts of Lebanon and Syria, followed by a ground operation in the area. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank./.