State Department internal documents contradict Blinken on Gaza aid

Under Section 620I of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, federal law prohibits arms transfers to countries that restrict the delivery of American humanitarian aid. ProPublica reports that prior to Blinken’s testimony, officials within the State Department and USAID had already concluded that Israel was systematically impeding aid to Gaza. These experts documented the destruction of agricultural infrastructure, the targeting of aid workers, and the obstruction of supply convoys, explicitly recommending that the administration trigger the law to halt $830 million in pending weapons shipments.

Despite these warnings, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew urged the Secretary of State to maintain the flow of arms, arguing that the Israeli war cabinet could be trusted to facilitate aid. This position has been repeatedly challenged by humanitarian organizations and the United Nations. Recent UNRWA data indicates that August was the most difficult month for aid access since the start of the year, with nearly half of all humanitarian movements denied or impeded.

While the administration continues to authorize significant weapons packages, including a $20 billion sale approved within the last month, critics are intensifying their pushback. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a resolution of disapproval, labeling the current policy a violation of international and domestic law. Filmmaker Alex Gibney and various policy experts have echoed these concerns, accusing the State Department of prioritizing political expediency over established legal mandates as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen.