The World Food Programme has accused the Israeli military of blocking the agency from delivering crucial aid needed to avert a famine in northern Gaza. Health officials in Gaza say at least 18 children have died from starvation in recent days. The Biden administration is defending its decision to keep sending arms to Israel even though it is blocking aid deliveries. National security communications adviser John Kirby was questioned on Tuesday.

Andrew Feinberg: “What is preventing the president from communicating to the Israeli government that if they don’t allow aid, we will not continue supplying weapons? Why is that not a fair trade: no aid, no bombs?”

John Kirby: “Because the president still believes that it’s important for Israel to have what it needs to defend itself against a still viable Hamas threat. Maybe some people have forgotten what happened on the 7th of October, but President Biden has not.”

Palestinians in Gaza say the lack of aid is leading people to take drastic actions to feed their families.

Ahmed al-Talbani: “We have the willingness and ability to bear it, but is there a father in the world who can see his children writhing in hunger in front of him and remain silent, even if the price is risking his life, just like all these people who risk their lives in order to obtain what is not even enough, for a crumb of flour or aid or canned food? Yesterday, some expired canned goods arrived containing mold and fungus. We are not animals as they described us.”