US threat to cut military aid to Israel highlights occupation concerns

Close allies are in their most serious dispute since the start of the Gaza war

- Jonathan Eyal

The US' decision to issue a formal warning to Israel that military aid could be restricted unless the Jewish state takes immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the most serious dispute between the otherwise close allies since the start of the Gaza war.

Less than three weeks before the US presidential election, the diplomatic showdown between the US and Israel is also bound to significantly impact American domestic politics.

Relations between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are notoriously bad. According to a recently published book by Mr Bob Woodward, a noted American investigative journalist, the US President privately branded the Israeli leader a "liar" and a "bad guy".

Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu held a phone call only on Oct 9 after a two-month lull during which the two leaders studiously avoided each other.

The latest American warning to Israel, delivered in a confidential letter dated Oct 13 but leaked to the media two days later, aims to prevent a confrontation between the two.

Instead, the five-page letter was signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and addressed to their Israeli counterparts, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

Officially, the letter warns Israel that the US will stop supplying weapons if Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.

Describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "increasingly dire", Mr Blinken and Mr Austin expressed concern over "recent actions by the Israeli government, including halting commercial imports, (and) denying or impeding nearly 90 per cent of humanitarian movements between northern and southern Gaza in September".

Together with the increased lawlessness in areas occupied by Israel, they said these actions "are contributing to an accelerated deterioration in the conditions in Gaza".