Israeli leaders assured Secretary of State Antony Blinken that it is not their policy to isolate northern Gaza, despite the United Nations reporting that their requests to bring humanitarian assistance to the area have been denied. Blinken emphasized the importance of increasing aid to Gaza during discussions with Israeli officials, noting that initial progress had been made but more action was needed. In response to a letter from Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Israel stated that they were undertaking actions outlined by the Biden administration to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a recent development, 114 trucks entered Gaza, but it was unclear what assistance reached the population. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office readout of the meeting with Blinken did not mention humanitarian assistance. The United States expects to see sustained action from Israel within 30 days to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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