Blinken and Austin: Israel could run out of US weapons

AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
The US State Department has confirmed that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have warned Israel that it must take immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days or face losing access to US military aid.
In a letter sent by Blinken and Austin to the Israeli government on Sunday, it was made clear that the level of aid entering Gaza must be increased from the current, very low level.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said today that at least 350 aid trucks a day must be delivered to Gaza in order for Israel to remain eligible for US military funding. In addition, Israel is required to introduce additional humanitarian pauses and ensure better protection of humanitarian sites.
"The US is making it clear to the Israeli government that these changes must be implemented, and they have been given an appropriate deadline to implement them," Miller said.
He also expressed US concern over Israel's bombing campaign in Beirut as part of the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"We have made it clear to Israel that we oppose the bombing that they have carried out in the past weeks in Beirut," Miller told reporters.
He stressed that Israel has the right to target "legitimate terrorist targets," but Washington is concerned about the nature of the campaign being conducted in Beirut.
"In the last few days we have seen a decrease in attacks and we will continue to monitor the situation closely," he added.
Regarding the letter from Blinken and Austin, Mueller denied that it was related to the upcoming US general election, although the 30-day deadline for improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza falls after the November 5 election.
"We didn't feel it was appropriate to ask for that to happen right away," Miller said.