International pressure is mounting on Israel as its latest military offensive in Gaza leaves hundreds dead within days.
On Monday, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada warned they would pursue “concrete actions,” including targeted sanctions, if Israel does not halt its renewed assault and continues to obstruct humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.
The Israeli military launched its new ground offensive over the weekend—dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariots”—shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump left the region without brokering a ceasefire or hostage release agreement.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), troops advanced into both northern and southern Gaza in what it described as a critical escalation designed to pressure Hamas into accepting a hostage deal on Israeli terms. The offensive follows days of intense airstrikes that, according to Gaza’s health authorities, have obliterated entire families.
Under growing international scrutiny, Israel has agreed to allow what it calls a “basic amount of food” into the enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that this concession was made amid pressure from allies. On Monday, the Israeli body overseeing aid coordination reported that five trucks had entered Gaza. However, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher labeled the move “limited,” calling it “a drop in the ocean” compared to the dire humanitarian needs.
Meanwhile, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel resumed Saturday in Doha, Qatar, but have yet to yield a breakthrough.
What is Israel’s new operation in Gaza?
Approved by Israel’s Security Cabinet on May 5, the latest operation aims to fulfill what the IDF calls the war’s core objectives: dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated on Monday that Israel intends to “take control of the entire Gaza Strip.” Despite Trump’s recent diplomatic push, no deal was reached during his visit, and Israel pressed ahead with its military campaign, intensifying airstrikes late last week and expanding ground operations on Sunday.
The Israeli military said Sunday it had struck more than 670 “Hamas targets” across Gaza in the past week, launching a series of intensive airstrikes as part of its expanded offensive.
In the early hours of Monday, Israeli forces targeted the medical supplies warehouse at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). The strike damaged critical medical supplies recently delivered to the facility, the group said.
Casualties have continued to mount. On Tuesday, Gaza health officials reported that overnight Israeli strikes killed at least 49 people across the enclave. The day before, at least 136 people were killed in a 24-hour period, according to health authorities, and the last functioning hospital in northern Gaza was forced to shut down. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said entire families were killed in their sleep during the bombardments.
Since Thursday, more than 400 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured, according to a CNN tally of data from Gaza’s health ministry.
Overall, more than 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military campaign on October 7, 2023, the ministry reports, noting that the majority of those killed have been women and children.
What’s happening with Gaza aid?
On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said it would permit a “basic amount of food” to enter Gaza to avoid famine, citing operational needs. Israel warned that a full-scale humanitarian crisis could complicate its ongoing military campaign.
The United Nations confirmed Monday that a small number of aid trucks were allowed to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing, but said the volume fell far short of what is needed. Gaza’s Government Media Office said at least 500 trucks per day are required to meet urgent humanitarian demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that continued restrictions could strain ties with key allies, including the United States. The 11-week blockade has deepened the humanitarian emergency, with aid agencies warning of an impending famine in the war-ravaged enclave.
The UN estimates that the entire population of over 2.1 million in Gaza is at risk of famine after nearly 20 months of conflict and mass displacement.
Leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada issued a joint statement Monday demanding Israel halt its renewed offensive and allow full humanitarian access. “If Israel does not cease its military operation and lift aid restrictions, we will take further concrete actions,” the statement said, hinting at possible sanctions.
Netanyahu responded by accusing the leaders of rewarding Hamas and encouraging further violence, referencing the group’s October 7 attacks.
In a separate joint statement, foreign ministers from 23 countries—including France, Germany, Italy, and the UK—called for the “full resumption” of aid and urged Israel to allow humanitarian organizations to operate independently.
“While there are signs of a limited aid restart, Israel’s two-month blockade has exhausted food, medicine, and essentials. Gaza’s population is starving and must receive urgent assistance,” the statement read.
On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed the criticism, calling Israel’s steps “totally insufficient” and stressing the need for “immediate and massive” aid delivery.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the threat of famine in Gaza could cost Israel vital international support.
“If a situation of famine develops, we simply won’t have the backing of the international community,” Netanyahu said in remarks shared via Telegram. “Even our closest allies—U.S. senators I know personally who have stood with Israel for decades—are telling me: ‘We’re backing you with weapons, with diplomatic cover at the UN, and full support to defeat Hamas. But there’s one thing we cannot defend: images of mass starvation. If that happens, we’ll have to pull our support.’”
His comments appeared aimed at balancing growing international pressure with opposition from right-wing factions at home, who firmly reject the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza—even for civilians.
When pressed on when aid deliveries would begin, Netanyahu’s office offered a vague assurance, stating only that “it will happen in the near future.”
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial U.S.-backed organization tasked with delivering aid to Gaza, welcomed Israel’s decision to allow limited food shipments, calling it a “bridging mechanism” until the group becomes fully operational.
GHF is set to implement a new, tightly controlled aid distribution system approved by both Israel and the United States, which say it is designed to prevent Hamas from diverting humanitarian assistance.
However, the United Nations has expressed concern that the initial aid distribution points—limited to southern and central Gaza—may reinforce Israel’s stated goal of depopulating northern Gaza. Earlier this month, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the objective was to relocate “the entire Gazan population” from the north.
Jake Wood, GHF’s executive director, said Israel has since agreed to allow the foundation to establish two aid sites in northern Gaza, which he expects could become operational within 30 days.
In an interview with CNN, Wood acknowledged that he did not yet know how many aid trucks Israel would authorize or when deliveries would begin. He also defended the foundation against criticism, claiming much of the humanitarian sector’s opposition is based on misinformation.
How have others reacted?
Human rights advocates have sharply criticized the U.S. and Israeli-backed aid plan, warning it risks militarizing humanitarian assistance, endangering civilians, and contributing to the forced displacement of Gaza’s population.
On Monday, the head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the newly proposed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) mechanism, calling it “unworkable.” The official warned that the scheme would effectively “weaponize humanitarian aid for children and women,” further exacerbating an already dire crisis.
James Elder, spokesperson for UNICEF, emphasized Israel’s legal obligation under international law to ensure humanitarian access. “Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal responsibility to provide aid,” Elder told CNN’s Becky Anderson on Connect the World. “Despite more aid workers being killed here than in any other conflict, brave people are ready to do that job. They just need to be allowed to do it.”
His comments came as UN aid chief Tom Fletcher pushed back against the need for new mechanisms like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), stating: “Let’s not waste time—we already have a plan.”
In one of the most forceful statements yet from a senior UN official, Fletcher warned of the consequences of inaction. Speaking at the UN Security Council, he urged global leaders to act decisively to prevent atrocities: “Will you act to prevent genocide and ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you later claim, ‘we did all we could’?”
What is Trump saying?
U.S. President Donald Trump recently toured several Gulf states, including Qatar, where his team was engaged in indirect negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Notably, he did not visit Israel during the trip—marking the second time this month he has skipped a stop there while brokering regional agreements.
Trump has publicly called for an end to the “brutal war” in Gaza. On Wednesday, he denied that Israel had been sidelined diplomatically, saying, “This is good for Israel.” However, by Thursday, his messaging had shifted. He controversially suggested the U.S. should “take” Gaza and transform it into a “freedom zone.”
While speaking to Fox News on Saturday, President Trump said he wasn’t frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging that the Israeli leader is facing “a tough situation.” During his Gulf visit, Trump also acknowledged the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying, “People are starving,” and claimed the U.S. would have the situation “taken care of.”
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff echoed those concerns on Sunday, telling ABC News that the primary challenge to getting aid into Gaza is logistical. “It is logistically complicated, and the conditions on the ground are dangerous,” he said.
Where do negotiations stand?
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Saturday that Israel’s renewed military offensive is what prompted Hamas to return to talks in Doha. However, many officials and analysts believe it was President Trump’s diplomatic push in the Gulf that likely influenced Hamas’s return to the negotiating table.
On Saturday, senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nunu confirmed via Hamas-run Al Aqsa TV that “negotiations without preconditions” had resumed in the Qatari capital.
The progress of those talks remains unclear. On Sunday, Israel reiterated that it would consider ending the war only if Hamas fully surrenders—an outcome widely viewed as unacceptable to the group so long as Israel demands its disarmament.
Meanwhile, Hamas officials have issued mixed signals. Earlier Sunday, a senior Hamas figure told CNN the group was prepared to release seven to nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Hours later, another senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, directly refuted the earlier proposal. Posting on Al-Aqsa TV’s Telegram channel, Zuhri said, “There is no truth to the rumors that the movement agreed to release nine Israeli prisoners in exchange for a two-month ceasefire.”
He added, “We are prepared to release all the prisoners at once, but only if the occupation commits to a full cessation of hostilities under international guarantees. We will not release any prisoners as long as the occupation continues its aggression against Gaza indefinitely.”
+ There are no comments
Add yours