On Monday, Israel’s military announced an expansion of a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, which they initially established to address the crisis there. This move came ahead of a deadline set by the Biden administration, requiring Israel to increase aid deliveries to Gaza or face potential limitations on military support.

In its statement, the Israeli military explained that this expanded zone would now offer field hospitals, tents, shelters, and supplies of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment. However, the military didn’t specify whether these were new resources or if they were already present. A provided map highlighted nine new areas added to the humanitarian zone.

Aid organizations have emphasized the critical need for these resources, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel’s intensified operations target Hamas, the group behind the October 7, 2023, attack that marked the war’s beginning.

This announcement aligns with the U.S. deadline, which falls on the 30-day mark set on October 13. Just days earlier, a U.N.-backed panel cautioned that famine was approaching in northern Gaza, urging rapid intervention to prevent worsening conditions in the area.

The Biden administration recently gave one of its strongest warnings since the conflict started, signaling that if Israel does not allow more aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million people, it could impact U.S. policy, including the provision of military support to Israel. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan remarked on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the U.S. would assess Israel’s progress on aid access to Gaza this week, after which President Biden would decide on a response.

It’s unclear if Israel’s expanded zone will significantly improve conditions in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area in southern Gaza that now houses large numbers of displaced families. Designated as a civilian safe zone, it has faced damage from Israeli strikes and continues to lack essential medical services. Israel’s military stated its strikes aim to target Hamas fighters while minimizing civilian harm.

Evacuation orders from Israel have also reduced the already overcrowded humanitarian zone by more than 20%, even as Palestinians from other parts of Gaza are directed to this zone. Aid groups argue the area is already overstretched, with insufficient shelter, food, water, sanitation, and medical care.