The first few aid trucks have entered Gaza following nearly three months of Israel’s full blockade of meals, medication and different provides, Israel and the United Nations mentioned on Monday (May 19, 2025), as Israel acknowledged stress from allies.
Five trucks carrying child meals and different desperately wanted aid entered the territory of over 2 million Palestinians through the Kerem Shalom crossing, in accordance with the Israeli protection physique in cost of coordinating aid to Gaza, COGAT.
The U.N. known as it a “welcome development” however mentioned much more aid is required. Food safety specialists final week warned of famine in Gaza. During the newest ceasefire that Israel led to March, some 600 aid trucks entered Gaza every day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned his choice to renew restricted, “basic” aid to Gaza got here after allies mentioned they could not help Israel’s renewed army offensive if there are “images of hunger” coming from the Palestinian territory.
‘Drop in the ocean’
The U.N. humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, mentioned the primary few trucks had been a “drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed.” He mentioned a further 4 U.N. trucks had been cleared to enter Gaza. Those trucks might enter tomorrow, in accordance with COGAT.
Mr. Fletcher added that given the chaotic state of affairs on the bottom, the U.N. expects the aid could possibly be looted or stolen, which has been a rising drawback because the blockade continued and assets turned more and more scarce. He urged Israel to open a number of crossings in northern and southern Gaza to allow a daily move of aid.
Israel over the weekend launched a brand new wave of air and floor operations throughout Gaza, and the military ordered the evacuation of its second-largest metropolis, Khan Younis, the place Israel carried out an enormous operation earlier within the 19-month warfare that left a lot of the realm in ruins.
Israel says its offensive is a bid to stress Hamas to launch the remaining hostages kidnapped within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault that ignited the warfare. Hamas has mentioned it’ll solely launch them in change for an enduring ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
Mr. Netanyahu mentioned on Monday that Israel plans on “taking control of all of Gaza,” in addition to establishing a brand new system to distribute aid that circumvents Hamas. He has mentioned Israel additionally will encourage what he describes because the voluntary emigration of a lot of Gaza’s inhabitants to different international locations — one thing that Palestinians have rejected.
The Trump administration has voiced full help for Israel’s actions and blames Hamas for deaths in Gaza, although in current days it has expressed rising concern over the starvation disaster.
U.S. President Donald Trump — who skipped Israel on his journey to the area final week — voiced concern in regards to the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, as did Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a video assertion posted to social media, Mr .Netanyahu mentioned Israel’s “greatest friends in the world” had informed him, “We can not settle for photographs of starvation, mass starvation. We can not stand that. We won’t be able to help you.”
Mr. Netanyahu said the situation was approaching a “red line” and a “dangerous point,” but it was not clear if he was referring to the crisis in Gaza or the potential loss of support from allies.
The video statement appeared aimed at pacifying anger in Netanyahu’s nationalist base at the decision to resume aid. Two far-right governing partners have pressed Netanyahu not to allow aid into Gaza.
At least one of them, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, appeared to be on board with the latest plan.
“No more raids and going in and out, but conquering, cleansing and remaining until Hamas is destroyed,” he mentioned. “We are destroying what continues to be left of the strip, just because every little thing there’s one huge metropolis of terror.”
Aid into Gaza could be “minimal,” Mr. Netanyahu mentioned, and would act as a bridge towards the launch of a brand new aid system in Gaza. A U.S.-backed group will distribute help in hubs that can be secured by the Israeli army.
Israel says the plan is supposed to forestall Hamas from accessing aid, which Israel says it makes use of to bolster its rule in Gaza.
Published – May 20, 2025 03:20 am IST
