Israel allows mimited Aid into Gaza as ceasefire hopes clash with escalating conflict

Israel allowed 100 aid trucks carrying flour, baby food, and medical supplies into Gaza on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military, amid reports from UN officials that the assistance has yet to reach civilians in need due to ongoing distribution challenges.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated Israel is open to a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the return of hostages but emphasized that the broader military operation to gain full control over Gaza would continue.

After an 11-week blockade, nearly 200 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday and Tuesday. However, according to aid officials and local sources, none of those supplies have yet reached Gaza's bakeries, hospitals, or soup kitchens.

"None of this aid – and it's a very limited number of trucks – has reached the Gaza population," said Antoine Renard, World Food Programme’s country director.

Humanitarian conditions remain dire. Massive stockpiles of aid are held up at border crossings, while nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population faces the threat of famine. “I’ve been here since eight this morning to get one plate of food for six people,” said Mahmoud al-Haw, who waits daily in long lines hoping to secure a portion of lentil soup for his children.

The UN cited security concerns as the reason aid had not yet moved from the Kerem Shalom crossing into wider areas of Gaza. However, by late Wednesday, there were signs of progress, with trucks reported in Rafah and sightings of flour deliveries in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah.

Israel imposed a full blockade in March, accusing Hamas of diverting aid intended for civilians—an accusation the group denies. Under mounting international pressure, Israel is now allowing limited aid under a new U.S.-backed distribution plan involving private contractors and secure delivery hubs. The United Nations has refused to participate, arguing the system lacks neutrality and impartiality.

Mounting Death Toll and Political Tensions

Even as limited aid began trickling in, Israeli airstrikes and tank fire reportedly killed at least 50 people across Gaza on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck 115 targets, including rocket sites and tunnels.

Diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled. Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, while Israel insists on Hamas’s disarmament and the exile of its leadership before halting the campaign.

Netanyahu claimed a recent airstrike likely killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar and reiterated that Israel would not end the war without the full demilitarization of Gaza and the removal of Hamas from power.

The conflict, reignited in March after a brief ceasefire, has drawn increasing international condemnation—even from allies like Britain, Canada, and the United States. Netanyahu denounced international sanctions on Israel as “a disgrace,” arguing countries should target Hamas instead.

Internal Division and Growing Pressure

Inside Israel, discontent is growing. Calls for a ceasefire and hostage deal are gaining traction, with a Hebrew University poll showing 70% of Israelis support a deal to secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages held in Gaza.

Prominent critics, including left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan, have warned of moral and diplomatic collapse. “A sane country doesn't kill babies as a hobby,” Golan said, accusing the government of risking Israel’s transformation into a “pariah state.” His remarks drew fierce backlash from the Netanyahu administration.

Golan, a decorated former military officer and current head of the left-wing Democrats, represents a minority in Israeli politics. Still, his comments and similar criticism from former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have highlighted deepening political divisions over the war.

Despite sliding poll numbers and looming legal battles—including corruption charges and an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court—Netanyahu remains aligned with hardline ministers pushing for what they term “final victory”: total defeat of Hamas and continued military presence in Gaza.

The war began following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli estimates.

Since then, over 53,600 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities. Large swathes of the territory lie in ruins, and aid organizations warn that severe malnutrition is now widespread.