US to Announce Over $300 Million in Aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, According to Reuters

By Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON – The United States is set to announce an additional $336 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This funding, as reported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to help partners provide crucial aid, including food, healthcare, nutrition, and other essential services.

The funding will also support emergency shelter for displaced individuals in Gaza as they prepare for the winter. According to the agency, the ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, devastated the lives of many innocent Palestinians and Israelis, and created urgent needs in both Gaza and the West Bank.

The U.S. continues to urge all parties involved to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the immediate release of hostages. It emphasizes the necessity of ramping up humanitarian aid access throughout Gaza.

The conflict escalated on October 7, when Hamas launched attacks on Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s military has conducted extensive strikes on Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents and leading to widespread hunger, disease, and over 41,000 reported deaths as per Palestinian health authorities.

Efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have not yet succeeded. A spokesperson for USAID indicated that while aid has continued to reach Gaza, significant barriers to access and ongoing insecurity hinder the ability to meet the critical needs of those affected.

The United Nations has expressed ongoing concerns about obstacles to delivering aid in Gaza, highlighting an environment of "total lawlessness." Tragically, nearly 300 humanitarian aid workers, including a large proportion from the U.N., have lost their lives during the conflict.