Ex-State Department Official: Urgent Need to Address Starvation in Gaza 10/17/2024

                               Ex-State Department Official: Urgent Need to Address Starvation in Gaza

Aid organizations, including Oxfam, warn that Israel's siege on northern Gaza is reaching catastrophic levels. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has threatened to cut military aid to Israel—but not for another 30 days. This delay comes as the U.S. continues to arm Israel despite findings from USAID and the State Department that Israel has routinely blocked food and medical aid to Gaza.
Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned over increased arms sales to Israel, has launched a new lobbying group, A New Policy, alongside Tariq Habash, who resigned from the Education Department. Their organization aims to challenge the entrenched pro-Israel consensus in U.S. politics.
Paul criticizes the U.S. administration's failure to act swiftly, highlighting a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that lists steps Israel should take to ease restrictions on aid to Gaza. Yet, this letter only underscores that the U.S. is in violation of its own laws, which prohibit aid to countries restricting U.S.-funded humanitarian efforts.
Additionally, reports indicate that Biden’s special envoy, Lise Grande, has assured aid groups that arms to Israel would not be suspended, emphasizing that “the rules don’t apply to Israel.” This stance has caused internal dissent, with resignations from officials like Julieta Valls Noyes, who expressed concern over the U.S. continuing aid while Israel blocks humanitarian access.
Paul argues that the time for action is now, not in 30 days, as people in Gaza suffer from starvation and lack of medical care. A New Policy advocates for compliance with American laws and values in foreign policy, urging immediate changes to ensure aid reaches those in need.