Israel Allows Limited Aid into Gaza as Starvation Crisis Deepens
The situation in Gaza has reached a breaking point, with famine looming and international pressure mounting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently greenlit a small amount of food aid to enter the territory, a move that comes after nearly three months of a tight blockade choking off supplies. While this step might seem like progress, it’s barely scratching the surface of what’s needed to ease the suffering in Gaza.
International Response
Since early March 2025, Israel’s blockade has blocked almost all food, medicine, and other critical supplies from reaching Gaza. The goal was to squeeze Hamas during ongoing military operations, but the real cost has been a humanitarian disaster. The international community, including some of Israel’s closest allies, has been sounding alarms, warning that support for Israel could waver if the crisis isn’t addressed.
On May 19, 2025, Israel finally let a trickle of aid through. Nine trucks, some carrying a baby. Concurrent food, rolled into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to UN aid chief Tom Fletcher. The Israeli military said five of those were UN trucks delivering food and medical supplies to southern Gaza, with plans for up to 20 trucks total. But Fletcher was blunt: this aid is a “drop in the ocean” compared to what’s needed.
Distribution Mechanism and Challenges
The decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Netanyahu admitted that some of Israel’s biggest allies were getting uneasy, hinting that images of starving Gazans could erode their support. Leaders from the UK, France, and Canada weren’t impressed, calling the move “wholly inadequate” and pushing for a much bigger, ongoing aid effort to tackle the crisis.
To keep aid from falling into Hamas’s hands, Israel set up a new distribution system through the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The idea is to get supplies straight to civilians, bypassing Hamas entirely. Sounds good on paper, but aid groups aren’t sold. Many have opted out, worried about access, logistics, and whether the aid will actually reach the people who need it most.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is still a nightmare. Hospitals are swamped and out of supplies. Food shortages have left people, especially kids, malnourished and starving. The UN and aid agencies are begging for unrestricted access to deliver the massive help Gaza needs, saying the current trickle won’t cut it.
Conclusion
Israel’s decision to let in a bit of aid is a small nod to the global outcry, but it’s nowhere near enough. The challenges of getting aid to the right people, combined with the sheer scale of the crisis, mean a much bigger effort is needed. International cooperation and serious diplomatic work are crucial to make sure that help actually reaches Gaza’s desperate civilians.