Israel fears Trump could cut aid amid Gaza blockade, mirroring Ukraine shift
By isabelle // 2025-03-05
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  • Israel fears U.S. support may waver as Trump’s abrupt policy shifts on Ukraine raise concerns about America’s reliability as an ally.
  • Trump’s transactional foreign policy approach and suspension of aid to Ukraine have sparked unease in Jerusalem.
  • Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza has drawn international condemnation and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
  • U.S. public opinion is shifting, with growing criticism of Israel’s actions and calls to reconsider unconditional aid.
  • Experts warn Israel could face a similar fate to Ukraine if domestic pressure mounts against U.S. support.
As the Trump administration pivots sharply from its predecessor’s policies, Israel is nervously eyeing the fallout from Washington’s abrupt shift on Ukraine and wondering if it could be next. The U.S. has long been Israel’s staunchest ally, but recent developments, including President Donald Trump’s public clashes with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the suspension of aid to Kyiv, have sparked fears in Jerusalem that America’s support could waver. With Israel currently blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza and facing growing criticism over its handling of the conflict, some experts warn that Trump, despite his historically pro-Israel stance, might reconsider U.S. assistance if domestic pressure mounts. The parallels between Ukraine and Israel are hard to ignore. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. poured billions into Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, but Trump has taken a markedly different approach, threatening to cut aid and demanding an immediate end to the conflict. Now, as Israel receives billions in U.S. military assistance while blocking aid to Gaza, critics argue that the U.S. is enabling a humanitarian crisis.

A shifting U.S. policy

The Trump administration has already approved nearly $12 billion in military aid to Israel since taking office in January, including a recent $4 billion package expedited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio using emergency powers. Yet, as Ksenia Svetlova, a senior fellow at Chatham House and former Knesset member, noted, “What happened in the White House with Zelensky shows that the U.S. doesn’t have a constant policy or permanent allies. If there are no permanent allies, if Ukraine is thrown into the trash after all these years ... no one is immune.” Svetlova’s warning underscores a growing unease in Israel. While Trump has been a vocal supporter of the Jewish state, his transactional approach to foreign policy and willingness to cut ties with long-standing allies could leave Israel vulnerable. “Even in the current term, Trump can change,” Svetlova said.

Israel doesn't deserve American support while blocking aid to Gaza

Israel’s decision to block all humanitarian aid to Gaza has further complicated its relationship with the U.S. The move, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday, came after Hamas refused to extend a temporary ceasefire proposed by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. Netanyahu’s government insists it will not allow aid into Gaza without the release of Israeli hostages, but the decision has drawn widespread condemnation. “Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war,” Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a statement. “Israel’s total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a cruel act of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” The blockade has deepened an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 2 million people rely on aid for survival. With Israel now planning to cut off electricity and water to the territory, the situation is poised to worsen. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the move as an “important step in the right direction,” but rights groups warn it could amount to a war crime.

Domestic pressure in the U.S.

In the U.S., public opinion is shifting. While Trump has historically been a strong ally of Israel, growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and accusations of genocide are eroding support for unconditional aid. Social media platforms like Twitter, often a bellwether for future public sentiment, show little appetite for continuing the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel. The Israel lobby is reportedly pushing for a 25-year aid package to lock in U.S. support, but critics argue that such a move would only entrench a flawed policy. As one observer noted, “The only people who support U.S. funding Israel are shills being paid by Israel or Israeli proxies.” Israel’s fears of being “dropped” by the U.S. are not unfounded. The Trump administration’s willingness to cut aid to Ukraine and its transactional approach to foreign policy suggest that no ally is safe. With Israel blocking aid to Gaza and facing growing international condemnation, the pressure on Trump to reconsider U.S. support is mounting. While the president has long been a friend to Israel, the shifting tides of public opinion and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza could force a reckoning. As Svetlova warned, “Israel must be prepared to become like Ukraine.” Sources for this article include: InformationLiberation.com Reuters.com BBC.com MiddleEastEye.net
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