Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his decision to resume limited aid to Gaza was made under pressure from allies who said they could not support renewed Israeli military action if “pictures of famine” emerged in the Palestinian territory.
The announcement gave Palestinians hope that vital food, medicine and other supplies would arrive, but nothing had arrived by Monday evening.
An Israeli official said that flour, baby food and medicine would be allowed into Gaza.
Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal noted that baby food was already arriving, but there were no signs of aid in Gaza. He did not specify how much aid would be delivered, where exactly, or when.
At the same time, Israel launched a new wave of air and ground operations across the territory, and the army ordered the evacuation of Gaza's second-largest city, Khan Younis, where Israel had previously carried out a massive operation that left much of the area devastated.
Israel announced on Sunday that it would allow “basic” aid to be delivered to Gaza to avoid a “hunger crisis.”
Experts have already warned of a possible famine if the blockade imposed on the roughly two million Palestinians living in the territory is not lifted.
Israel has stepped up its offensive in the Gaza Strip, claiming it is an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war.
Hamas said it would release the hostages only in exchange for a long-term ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Mr Netanyahu said Israel planned to “take control of all of Gaza” and create a new aid distribution system that bypasses Hamas. He added that Israel would encourage what he called the voluntary emigration of large parts of Gaza's population to other countries.
The Trump administration has expressed full support for Israel's actions and blamed Hamas for Palestinian casualties, although in recent days it has begun to express growing concern about the hunger crisis.
US President Donald Trump, who did not visit Israel during his trip to the region last week, expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as did Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said he was “concerned” about it during a visit to Turkey.
In a video message posted on social media, Mr Netanyahu said “Israel's greatest friends in the world” had told him
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
