Israel allows only ‘basic quantity of food’ into Gaza after 10 weeks

After starving Palestinians for more than 10 weeks and pushing Gaza to the brink of famine, Israel announced that “basic aid” will be allowed into the besieged enclave to prevent mass starvation. The decision followed mounting international pressure.

Israel had sealed off Gaza on March 2, blocking the entry of all goods, including food. Since then, the humanitarian crisis has deepened, drawing widespread international condemnation.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying that Israel would permit "a basic quantity of food to be brought in for the population" to avert famine.

The announcement came just hours after Israel declared a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza. Israeli officials reportedly expedited the aid decision to avoid delaying Operation Gideon's Chariot, amid global criticism.

However, the statement provided no clarity on how or when the aid would be delivered.

The Israeli government emphasised that it would take measures to ensure that the aid does not fall into the hands of Hamas and pledged to prevent the group from controlling its distribution.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

“We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick, and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

As of May 3, at least 57 Palestinians, most of them children, have died from starvation, and more than 9,000 have been hospitalized with acute malnutrition.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified airstrikes across Gaza, killing at least 67 people in multiple attacks on locations including a hospital.

Areas such as Khan Younis, Beit Lahia, and the Jabalia refugee camp were among those heavily bombarded.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 53,339 Palestinians have been killed and 121,034 injured in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023.