JERUSALEM: The Israeli military announced the opening of an additional aid crossing into Gaza on Tuesday (November 12th), on the eve of a deadline imposed by the US to improve humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in the war-torn territory.

The United Nations agency that supports Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and eight humanitarian organizations said Tuesday, however, that not enough aid is reaching the territory, which is already in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military said it opened the Kissufim crossing on Tuesday “as part of the effort and commitment to increase the volume and routes of aid to the Gaza Strip.”

“Food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment” were delivered to central and southern Gaza, the army said in a joint statement with COGAT, the Israeli Defense Ministry agency responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Israel warned he had 30 days to improve the delivery of aid to Gaza or risk withholding some military assistance from the United States, Israel’s biggest backer.

The October 13 US letter was sent ahead of the November 5 US presidential election won by Donald Trumpwho promised to give Israel freer rein.

But eight aid groups, including Oxfam and Save the Children, said Israel had “failed to comply” with US demands – “at enormous human cost to Palestinian civilians in Gaza”.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is now at its worst point since the war began in October 2023,” they said in a statement.

“We call on the US government to immediately decide that Israel is in breach of its assurances,” they added.