The Israeli military resumed airstrikes across Gaza yesterday, just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to increase humanitarian aid to address what international organizations have called catastrophic hunger levels. The timing has raised questions about Israel’s commitment to easing the humanitarian crisis while continuing its military campaign against Hamas.
I arrived in Jerusalem three days ago, my fourth trip to the region since October. The contrast between the relative normalcy here and the devastation just 70 kilometers away in Gaza couldn’t be more stark.
“We made clear commitments to the United States about increasing aid flows,” a senior Israeli official told me on condition of anonymity. “But security considerations remain paramount. Every truck must be inspected for weapons that could reach Hamas.”
The World Food Programme reported last week that 93% of Gaza’s population faces crisis levels of hunger, with children particularly vulnerable. Their assessment found acute malnutrition rates exceeding emergency thresholds in northern Gaza. The UN agency has repeatedly warned that famine conditions could emerge without sustained humanitarian access.
During a press conference yesterday, Netanyahu announced plans to open the Erez crossing and permit 300 additional aid trucks daily. “Israel is committed to preventing a humanitarian crisis while continuing to dismantle Hamas infrastructure,” he stated.
Yet within hours, residents in central Gaza reported at least six airstrikes targeting areas near Khan Younis. Local health officials claim 19 civilians were killed, though these numbers cannot be independently verified.
At the Kerem Shalom crossing, I witnessed the bottleneck of aid delivery firsthand. Hundreds of trucks wait for days, sometimes weeks, for security clearance. Mohammed, a Palestinian aid worker I interviewed, expressed frustration: “They announce more aid while bombs fall. What good are food deliveries if people fear leaving shelters to collect them?”
The U.S. administration has intensified pressure on Israel following a classified intelligence assessment that concluded Israeli forces were impeding aid deliveries. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his recent visit to Tel Aviv, emphasized that “humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration.”
Legal experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross have noted that under international humanitarian law, Israel bears responsibility as the occupying power to ensure adequate food and medical supplies reach civilians.
Dr. Sarah Levin, an emergency physician recently returned from a medical mission to Gaza, described conditions as “medieval.” She told me: “Children are dying from preventable causes—dehydration, untreated infections, and malnutrition. The healthcare system has essentially collapsed.”
The European Union’s humanitarian chief, Janez Lenarčič, called the situation “a man-made disaster that continues to worsen daily.” The EU has pledged an additional €125 million in emergency assistance but maintains that aid alone cannot solve a crisis that requires immediate political resolution.
Hamas officials, meanwhile, have accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon of war—a charge Israeli authorities vehemently deny. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted that “Hamas continues to confiscate aid meant for civilians and redirect it to its fighters.”
Independent monitoring remains challenging. Reporters and humanitarian workers face severe restrictions on movement within Gaza, making comprehensive assessment difficult. The few international aid workers permitted entry describe overwhelming needs that far exceed current delivery capacity.
At Rafah’s makeshift displacement camps, families told me they’ve resorted to collecting grass to supplement meager food rations. Um Ahmad, a mother of four, said her family often goes days with only one small meal. “My children don’t cry from bombing anymore—they cry from hunger,” she said, a statement that haunts me still.
The economic costs of the conflict continue mounting. The World Bank estimates Gaza’s infrastructure damage at $18.5 billion, with rebuilding likely to take decades. Meanwhile, nearly all economic activity has ceased, creating almost universal unemployment.
As night fell over Jerusalem, another round of airstrikes illuminated Gaza’s horizon. The dissonance between diplomatic statements and ground realities has rarely seemed so profound. Netanyahu’s government faces mounting international criticism while maintaining strong domestic support for continuing military operations.
Whether increased aid will materialize remains uncertain. Previous announcements have resulted in only modest improvements in delivery rates. What’s clear is that Gaza’s civilians remain caught between Israeli military objectives and Hamas’s continued resistance—with hunger as their daily companion.
