Arms embargo not on table for close ally Israel, Biden’s humanitarian envoy told aid groups — report

The US would not consider an arms embargo in Israel over the blocking of food and medicine from the Gaza Strip, the Biden administration’s Middle Eastern aid envoy told humanitarian groups that work in the enclave in August, Politico reports.

While pressure through the United Nations was on the table, Grande told the organizations that Israel is part of a “tight circle of very few allies” to whom Washington would not refuse aid, Lise Grande told the organizations at a meeting in the US capital, according to three people present in the meeting and two others who were briefed on it.

The sources spoke anonymously about concerns that their groups’ work may be hindered in Gaza.

The US this week confirmed sending a letter warning that Washington’s continued supply of weapons was at risk if Jerusalem didn’t take significant steps to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the enclave within 30 days.

Israel allowed 50 trucks of humanitarian aid into the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, and the US said Jerusalem had taken initial steps to ease the crisis.