Overview

• Israel has begun permitting a basic amount of food and medicine into Gaza after a two-month blockade, citing the need to prevent a starvation crisis.
• The decision was made on the recommendation of the Israeli military to support the 'Gideon’s Chariots' ground offensive targeting Hamas infrastructure.
• International aid organizations, including the UN World Food Programme and World Central Kitchen, will manage initial aid distribution until a new mechanism is established.
• Netanyahu faced opposition from far-right coalition members who threatened to quit over the decision to resume limited aid deliveries.
• The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe, with UN agencies warning of famine and reports of more than 53,000 deaths since the conflict began in October 2023.