Israel has announced it will permit the entry of a limited quantity of food into the Gaza Strip, following increasing international pressure to ease a total blockade that has been in place since early March.
The decision, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, comes as the Israeli military intensifies its operations in Gaza and amid ongoing indirect negotiations with Hamas over a potential ceasefire. The statement noted that the move was based on military recommendations aimed at preventing a full-blown hunger crisis in the territory. Authorities emphasized that efforts would be made to ensure humanitarian aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas.
The blockade, implemented on March 2, was intended to pressure Hamas into concessions. However, humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations, have repeatedly warned of dire shortages of food, clean water, fuel, and medicine. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the worsening situation, stating that “a lot of people are starving” and pledged to address the crisis.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Israel to immediately resume aid deliveries on a massive and unrestricted scale.
On Sunday, the Israeli military launched what it described as “extensive ground operations” in both northern and southern Gaza. Troops have taken key positions as part of an intensified campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
Negotiations continue in Qatar, with Israel’s government stating that efforts are being made to explore all avenues for a deal. The proposed agreement includes the release of all hostages, the exile of Hamas leaders, and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is actively involved in the talks.
Despite mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., progress has stalled. Prime Minister Netanyahu remains firm in opposing an end to the conflict without Hamas’s total defeat, while Hamas is demanding a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in exchange for releasing Israeli hostages.
On the battlefield, violence escalated over the weekend. Gaza’s civil defence reported that at least 50 people were killed Sunday due to Israeli airstrikes, including 22 in Al-Mawasi, where displaced Palestinians had sought shelter. Footage from the scene showed residents sifting through the remains of makeshift shelters.
The humanitarian toll continues to climb. The health ministry in Gaza stated that 57 children have died from starvation since the aid blockade began—though this figure could not be independently verified. Hospitals are also under strain, with the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia reportedly out of service following a military siege, leaving northern Gaza without any operational public medical facilities.
Since the war began in October 2023 following a deadly Hamas assault on Israel that killed 1,218 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages, the death toll in Gaza has soared. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 3,193 people have died since March 18 alone, bringing the total number of casualties in Gaza to over 53,000.