US to announce over $335m in aid for Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank

The United States will announce nearly $336 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, according to a US Agency for International Development (USAID) statement seen by Reuters.

The funding will enable USAID’s partners to continue to provide humanitarian aid, including food assistance, healthcare, nutrition and other services, according to the statement.

The funding will also support emergency shelter assistance to displaced Gazans ahead of winter, the statement said.

“Over the last year, this conflict has cost the lives of innocent Palestinians and Israelis and has left Gaza and the West Bank in a state of humanitarian crisis and dire humanitarian need,” the statement said.

“The United States continues to call on all parties to agree to a ceasefire deal and an immediate release of hostages, and to allow for the immediate scale-up of humanitarian aid moving into and throughout Gaza.”

Israel has pummelling Gaza with US supplied and made weapons since October last year, killing 41,615 Palestinians and injuring 96,359 others. It has also imposed a stifling siege, denying the entry of clean water, food and medicines and leading to a famine in parts of the enclave.

Israel blocks entry of 83% of Gaza food aid: UN

According to the Israeli Ministry of Defence in August, 500 transport planes and 107 ships have delivered more than 50,000 tonnes of armaments and military equipment from the US to the occupation state since it launched its genocidal war on Gaza last October.

The military equipment delivered to Israel since the beginning of the war includes “armoured vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear and medical equipment,” according to the ministry.

The news came just weeks after the US approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, including scores of fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles.