The starvation crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point, with severe food scarcity and acute malnutrition impacting a significant portion of the population, particularly children. Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war, particularly to force the remaining Palestinians to abandon northern Gaza. Decisive action from the U.S. government is needed to address this crisis. Key recommendations include invoking Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, imposing targeted sanctions on Israeli officials and settlers obstructing aid, and facilitating the extradition of Andy Green, a U.S. citizen implicated in blocking humanitarian assistance.

Palestinians in Gaza are facing an escalating humanitarian crisis marked by widespread starvation and the collapse of essential services. Recent UN reports reveal that one in six children under two in northern Gaza is acutely malnourished, and at least 20 children have died from starvation, all in northern Gaza. The blockade imposed by Israel has severely disrupted access to food, healthcare, and basic necessities, in what appears to be an attempt to coerce the remaining Palestinian population to abandon their homes in northern Gaza. The targeting of aid groups, Palestinian aid distributors, and civilian infrastructure has further exacerbated the situation.

Blockade of Land Borders:

Israel’s imposition of a “total blockade” on Gaza, despite orders from the International Court of Justice to facilitate aid, has created a severe humanitarian crisis. The significant reduction in the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza, particularly in the northern parts of the enclave, shows a deliberate effort to use starvation as a weapon of war in an ethnic cleansing campaign. This situation necessitates urgent U.S. and international intervention to ensure the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and protect the human rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

Protests Blocking Aid Trucks:

Israeli protests have significantly hindered the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza. These efforts to block aid are orchestrated by various groups, including far-right activists and individuals with histories of violent extremism.  The lack of opposition from Israeli authorities to these pro-starvation demonstrations highlights a disturbing tolerance for actions that deepen the humanitarian crisis and enable genocide. The involvement of figures like Andy Green, with a contentious history tied to extremist activities, further underscores the need for a robust response to prevent the manipulation of humanitarian crises for political or ideological ends. 

Targeting Palestinian Civilian Aid Distributors:

The deliberate targeting of Palestinian police officials and civilians involved in aid distribution, such as police leader Fayeq al-Mabhouh and community leader Ismail al-Nounou, aims to destabilize the civil order in Gaza and undermine humanitarian efforts. These attacks, along with the targeting of activists from “Popular Committees” formed to secure and distribute humanitarian aid, reflect Israel’s broader policy of starving Gaza’s population and obstructing the organized distribution of aid. The targeting of Palestinian police officers and tribal leaders after the successful implementation of a new aid delivery system following the “flour massacre” demonstrates Israel’s ongoing plans to create chaos and unrest in Gaza, particularly in the northern parts of the strip, to coerce Palestinians to abandon their homes. 

President Biden’s Authority to Invoke Section 620i:

President Biden has the authority to invoke Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, which could lead to the withholding of U.S. military assistance to Israel if it is determined that Israel is obstructing U.S. humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The President’s decision would involve assessing Israel’s actions in relation to the obstruction of humanitarian aid and their impact on the human rights situation in Gaza. The calls from various humanitarian and arms control organizations for President Biden to exercise this authority, coupled with the administration’s resort to airdropping aid into Gaza, underscore the urgent need for U.S. action to address the dire situation and ensure Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian norms. 

Recent Senate letter on 620i:

In a recent letter to President Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley, and others urged the administration to take decisive action, emphasizing that Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian access are a primary cause of this catastrophe. The senators called for immediate consequences under existing U.S. law, specifically Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, if Israel fails to expand humanitarian access and facilitate safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza. 

Executive Order sanctioning settlers:

In February 2024, President Biden’s administration initiated a series of sanctions targeting Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, marking a significant U.S. stance against these particular abuses. The initial round of sanctions targeted four individuals, imposing financial and travel restrictions. Subsequently, on March 14, 2024, a second round of sanctions ]included three more settlers and two illegal outposts, underscoring the U.S. commitment to addressing settler violence and supporting stability and peace in the region.

However, several members of Netanyahu’s cabinet have similar backgrounds and complicity in extremist settler violence, or are abetting extremist advocacy around the war in Gaza: Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir are among them. In addition, the U.S. continues to mark produce from illegal settlements as “Made in Israel,” and allows U.S. businesses to operate in illegal settlements that are complicit in such violence while actively undermining long-term peace or Palestinian sovereignty. Serious action on settler extremism must reverse these positions which are a legacy of the Trump Administration and sanction similar Israeli leadership.

 Recommendations: 

In light of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the obstruction of aid deliveries exacerbated by Israeli settlers, including the involvement of Andy Green, also known as Baruch Ben Yosef, a U.S. citizen and suspect in the assassination of Arab-American Alex Odeh, now implicated in leading protests blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, it is imperative that the U.S. government take decisive action. 

AJP Action urges the U.S. government to: 

1. Invoke Section 620i of the Foreign Assistance Act, as advocated by Senators Chris Van Hollen, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and others, demanding that Israel cease its restrictions on humanitarian aid access to Gaza or face the forfeiture of U.S. military assistance. By immediately suspending all arms transfers to Israel in accordance with the law, the application of this law would demonstrate the U.S. government’s adherence to its own legal frameworks and its commitment to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 
2. Impose targeted sanctions on Israeli officials and settlers who have been instrumental in formulating, executing, or defending policies that contribute to human rights violations in Gaza, as evidenced by President Joe Biden’s executive order sanctioning seven Israeli settlers for violence in the West Bank. Such sanctions should extend to those implicated in obstructing humanitarian aid, thereby reinforcing the U.S. commitment to human rights and accountability. 
3. Facilitate the extradition of Andy Green, given his involvement in activities that hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Green’s extradition would underscore the U.S. government’s dedication to justice and the rule of law, particularly in addressing unresolved cases like that of Alex Odeh and ensuring accountability for actions that exacerbate humanitarian suffering. 

Collectively, these measures would signal a robust U.S. response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, emphasizing a commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and the urgent need for humanitarian access to the region.