Leaked letter reveals that the Biden-Harris administration has issued a warning to Israel about humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense, respectively, wrote a letter to Israel, urging it to enhance the humanitarian conditions in Gaza or face the possibility of losing vital security aid.

According to Matt Miller, the State Department spokesperson, the letter was intended to be a confidential, diplomatic message and was not meant for the public.

"Over the past few months, we have observed that the level of humanitarian assistance has not been sustained, and as a result, our concerns were not adequately addressed, leading to the letter sent by the two secretaries," Miller cautioned.

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, attempted to alleviate concerns and informed reporters that the letter was not intended as a threat. The letter was intended to emphasize the urgency and seriousness of the need for a significant increase in humanitarian aid. This is something that can be done with a friend or an ally. It is not the first time that this message has been conveyed to Israel, and it is hoped that it will not have to be communicated again.

Some critics took issue with the letter not being a threat.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former NSC official in the Trump administration, stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that he is unsure which is more concerning: threatening an ally is a necessary pre-election political theater to appease radical pro-Hamas leftists or that it is actually U.S. policy to cut off arms to Israel if Israel does not agree to feed, fuel, and fund Hamas.

Goldberg stated that the true purpose of the situation is whether Hamas can continue to exist through controlling and distributing humanitarian aid.

The letter, obtained by Axios, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly due to recent Israeli government actions such as halting commercial imports and impeding nearly 90% of humanitarian movements between northern and southern Gaza in September, which are contributing to an accelerated deterioration in the conditions in Gaza.

Despite assurances made by Israel last spring that led to improvements in the humanitarian situation, the amount of aid delivered to Gaza decreased by 50% in September, marking the lowest amount of aid delivered since the war began.

The letter demands that Israel reverse its negative humanitarian trend within 30 days and adhere to its obligations to the U.S. If Israel fails to comply with these requirements, it will violate U.S. law and have serious consequences for U.S. national security policy.

Israel has allowed 54,270 aid trucks carrying 1,064,820 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza since the start of the war, with 38,746 trucks carrying approximately 824,078 tons of food.

To provide foreign military financing assistance to Israel under the Foreign Assistance Act, the U.S. must regularly evaluate the distribution of humanitarian aid. President Biden issued a memorandum in February requiring countries receiving U.S. weapons to comply with international humanitarian law and provide written assurances of their adherence under the laws of war.

Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, the U.S. has given Israel billions of dollars in security aid. Additionally, Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, with around $310 billion in economic and military aid received since its founding. On average, the U.S. provides Israel with over $3 billion in security assistance annually.

The Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow II are major components of security aid, receiving $500 million annually for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs. These programs have been critical in thwarting rocket and missile attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran since October 7.

Since Oct. 7, Israel has received 13,981 120mm M830A1 high-explosive anti-tank multi-purpose with tracer (MPAT) tank cartridges, 500 aircraft deliveries and 107 sea shipments of over 50,000 tons of munitions and weapons systems, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The U.S. declared that it would send military personnel and initial components to Israel to operate a THAAD battery, enhancing the country's security.

The deployment of the THAAD battery to Israel highlights the United States' dedication to safeguarding Israel and defending American citizens in Israel against any ballistic missile attacks from Iran, according to Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

Since the start of hostilities following the Hamas-led massacre of Israelis in October, over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza. The terror group was responsible for the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 257 others. Gaza's 2.1 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and 1.9 million are internally displaced, according to the International Rescue Committee.