Israel to Halt Humanitarian Aid Amid Intensifying Military Offensive

Israel plans to significantly reduce humanitarian aid entering northern Gaza as its military offensive against Hamas escalates. An Israeli official, who requested anonymity, confirmed this shift on Saturday, stating that airdrops over Gaza City would cease in the coming days. This announcement follows the designation of Gaza City as a combat zone, raising concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis for Palestinians and remaining hostages in the region after nearly 23 months of conflict.

The decision has prompted increased international condemnation of Israel’s actions. Frustration is mounting both domestically and abroad due to the dire conditions faced by residents in Gaza. On Friday, Israel ended recently implemented daytime pauses in fighting that had allowed limited aid delivery, branding Gaza City as a stronghold for Hamas and citing the continued use of a tunnel network despite previous military operations.

According to the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations, the aid efforts, including airdrops and truck deliveries, have not kept pace with the urgent needs of the population. The UN estimates that around 600 trucks of aid are required daily to mitigate the crisis, a figure that remains largely unmet.

Increasing Strikes and Humanitarian Concerns

Israel’s military has intensified its strikes on the outskirts of Gaza City, an area recently reported to be experiencing famine by global food security experts. As of Saturday, there had been no airdrops for several days, marking a departure from the almost daily drops previously conducted. The Israeli army did not provide additional comments on its plans for aid delivery amid this significant shift.

Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned that the proposed evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from northern Gaza would lead to a “massive population movement” that no area in the region could accommodate. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, combined with critical shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical care, presents grave challenges to any large-scale evacuation effort.

Residents of Gaza City have begun leaving their homes, often multiple times, as they attempt to escape the escalating violence. Many are seen loading their few belongings onto pickup trucks or donkey carts in a desperate bid for safety.

Reports indicate that Israeli military actions have resulted in further civilian casualties. Health officials at Al-Awda Hospital have stated that Israeli gunfire killed four people seeking food in central Gaza. Additionally, an airstrike on a bakery in the Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including six women and three children. The Shifa Hospital has reported further fatalities from additional strikes, with Gaza’s Health Ministry recording that at least 63,371 Palestinians have died during the ongoing conflict.

Calls for Ceasefire and Hostage Concerns

As the situation deteriorates, families of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas are increasingly vocal about their fears. Currently, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli authorities reporting that 20 of them are believed to be alive. The loved ones of these hostages are rallying for a ceasefire, expressing concern that the expanding military offensive could jeopardize their safety.

One family member addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, saying, “If another living hostage comes back in a bag, it will not only be the hostages and their families who pay the price. You will bear responsibility for premeditated murder.”

The ongoing conflict continues to raise significant humanitarian and ethical concerns, with calls for urgent action to address the needs of the affected population in Gaza.