News Today: Israel Allows Gaza Food Aid Amid Military Push

Israel has announced that it will permit a “basic amount of food aid” into Gaza to prevent a full-scale starvation crisis after a 10-week blockade. This decision follows increasing international pressure and growing concern from aid organizations about a potential famine among Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.

The announcement, made by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the move comes at the recommendation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and is designed to support its renewed military campaign against Hamas, dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariot.”

In the official statement, Israel confirmed it would allow enough food to avoid mass starvation, while “ensuring Hamas does not gain control of humanitarian supplies.” The military insists that such a humanitarian move is crucial to maintaining the momentum of the ongoing ground operations across Gaza.

Israel’s decision comes just hours after the IDF expanded its extensive ground operations, launching strikes across Gaza, including Beit Lahia, Jabalia refugee camp, and Khan Younis. The IDF also confirmed it had targeted “terrorist infrastructure” near the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. Medical staff at the facility reported tank fire and accused the IDF of besieging the hospital without warning, effectively forcing it out of service.

Three major public hospitals in North Gaza are now non-operational, according to Gaza’s health ministry, raising alarm as civilians continue to suffer amid dwindling medical resources, food, and water.

Meanwhile, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called for the “immediate, massive and unhampered” resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Aid agencies have released harrowing images of malnourished children, warning that famine conditions are rapidly setting in.

In the latest attacks, 67 people have been killed and 361 injured in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The al-Mawasi camp, a declared “safe zone,” was also hit, killing 22 people and wounding 100 others, emergency services reported.

While the military offensive continues, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are being held in Qatar. An official statement from Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s delegation is exhausting “every possibility” to reach a deal, including the release of all hostages, exile of Hamas leaders, and disarmament of Gaza.

A Hamas representative, speaking to Legacy Daily, claimed that no progress had been made due to “Israeli intransigence.” The group reiterated its demand for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, in return for releasing all Israeli hostages in a single phase.