Israel has announced it will permit a "basic amount" of food to enter the Gaza Strip, ending a 10-week-long total blockade that aid agencies warned was pushing the enclave towards famine.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the decision was made following a recommendation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and was intended to prevent a starvation crisis that could threaten the success of its renewed military offensive, dubbed Operation Gideon's Chariot.
The move comes as Israeli forces escalate their operations across Gaza, launching what the military called “extensive ground operations” targeting Hamas strongholds. Airstrikes hit multiple areas, including the southern city of Khan Younis, Beit Lahia, and the Jabalia refugee camp in the north.
Gaza’s health ministry, operated by Hamas, reported at least 67 people killed and 361 injured in the past 24 hours alone. Among the dead were at least 22 displaced civilians killed in overnight strikes on al-Mawasi, an area previously designated as a "safe zone" by Israel.
Hospitals continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. Three public hospitals in North Gaza are now out of service. Staff at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia reported being shelled by Israeli tanks on Sunday night, with dozens of immobilised patients and medical personnel trapped inside. Israel claims Hamas operates from near such facilities, which Gaza officials deny.
International pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid has intensified. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Israel to enable the “immediate, massive and unhampered” delivery of aid. Aid groups warn of severe shortages of flour, gas, and clean water, with images emerging of severely malnourished children.
Netanyahu’s office said the aid allowed in will be controlled to prevent Hamas from diverting resources and that any humanitarian initiative must not compromise the ongoing military campaign.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations in Doha remain deadlocked. A Hamas official told the BBC that the group is ready to release all remaining Israeli hostages—estimated to number 58, with about 23 believed alive—if Israel agrees to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, full withdrawal, and substantial prisoner exchange. Israel reportedly insists on a phased release in exchange for a temporary truce.
The war began after Hamas's deadly 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which left around 1,200 dead and over 250 taken hostage. In response, Israel launched its most extensive military campaign in Gaza's history, which has so far killed over 53,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
As the conflict enters its eighth month, international concern is mounting over the scale of civilian suffering, especially with Gaza’s healthcare system collapsing and famine looming.
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