Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced $404 million in new US assistance for the Palestinians, as he urged other countries including US critics also to give money to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
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The aid, announced at an emergency aid conference in Jordan, brings the total US contribution to Palestinians — in Gaza, the West Bank and the region — to $674 million since war broke out in October, according to the State Department.

But Blinken noted that a UN appeal for the Palestinians was only one-third funded, with a shortfall of some $2.3 billion.

“Some have expressed great concern over the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, including countries with the capacity to give a lot, have provided very little or nothing at all,” Blinken told an emergency aid conference in Jordan, in a likely reference to US adversaries China and Russia.
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“It is time for everyone — everyone — to step up. And for those who have already given and given generously, give more,” he said.

Blinken did not specify how the United States would deliver the assistance but Washington — the largest donor to the Palestinians — has focused on the World Food Programme and private aid groups.

The US Congress has banned further contributions to the main provider of assistance on the ground — UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
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Israel, long critical of UNRWA, alleged in January that a number of the agency’s employees may have participated in the October 7 attack. The agency fired the employees and promised to investigate.
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