WASHINGTON – The Biden administration has issued a warning to Israel, indicating that it might lose access to U.S. weapons unless it permits more humanitarian assistance to reach the Palestinian people in Gaza.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin communicated to their Israeli counterparts that urgent action is needed within the next month to facilitate the delivery of food and critical aid into Gaza, or else U.S. military aid could be restricted.

“We are reaching out now to express our serious concern regarding the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and we urge your government to take immediate steps this month to change this trend,” they wrote, as per a copy shared by an Axios reporter on X.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, noted that this letter follows a decline in humanitarian support reaching Gazans.

Kirby emphasized that ensuring access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians is something the U.S. has been deeply concerned about since the conflict began.

Kirby stated that the letter wasn’t meant to be a threat but rather to convey the urgency and seriousness of the situation regarding the need for increased humanitarian aid.

Back in April, the administration had similar requests for enhanced humanitarian aid, and Kirby mentioned that those communications were met with a positive response from Israeli officials.

This letter serves as the strongest ultimatum directed at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s administration since the ongoing conflict in Gaza started a year ago, highlighting a potential shift in U.S. support for Israel.

With U.S. presidential elections just three weeks away, any signs of weakening support for Israel could increase pressure on Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. She has publicly advocated for Israel’s right to defend itself but has also expressed concern about the extent of human suffering in Gaza.

Simultaneously, the Biden administration seems to be balancing its criticisms of Israel by continuing to extend strong military support, as evidenced by their announcement on the same day the letter was sent, which included plans to deploy U.S. troops and advanced THAAD anti-missile batteries to Israel.

These developments come as Israeli military operations expand in northern Gaza, amidst ongoing worries about the humanitarian situation and access for civilians to essential resources like food, water, and medicine.

Humanitarian organizations report that famine and dire conditions have overtaken parts of Gaza following a year of conflict, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

U.S. forces constructed a $230 million pier three miles off Gaza’s coast last spring to facilitate the flow of food and medical supplies into the area. However, this initiative was halted after just two months due to piracy, mob activities, combat, and difficulties with weather that significantly hindered aid delivery.

In recent weeks, food deliveries have drastically decreased after Israeli authorities imposed new customs regulations on certain humanitarian assistance and have reduced business-ordered deliveries, according to reports from Reuters earlier this month.

The letter specified that Israel must take certain actions within the next 30 days, including allowing at least 350 trucks to enter Gaza daily, pausing hostilities to facilitate the delivery of aid, and lifting evacuation orders for civilians unless there is a clear operational need.