Israel plans to halt or significantly reduce humanitarian aid to parts of northern Gaza as its military offensive against Hamas escalates. An unnamed official confirmed that the cessation of airdrops and a decrease in aid truck deliveries will occur soon, following the declaration of Gaza City as a combat zone. This decision is likely to provoke further international criticism of Israel, as the humanitarian crisis deepens for both Palestinians and the remaining hostages amid nearly 23 months of conflict.
The official indicated that Israel would stop airdrops over Gaza City in the coming days and reduce the number of aid trucks entering the northern region. As part of this strategy, Israel aims to move hundreds of thousands of residents southward. On November 3, 2023, Israel ceased recently established daytime pauses in fighting, which had allowed for some aid deliveries. The government has characterized Gaza City as a stronghold for Hamas and claims that a network of tunnels remains operational, despite extensive military operations in the area.
The United Nations has reported that the recent pauses and airdrops have been inadequate. The organization states that Gaza requires at least 600 trucks of aid daily to meet the needs of its population. Recent footage from the Associated Press shows multiple explosions across Gaza as military actions have intensified, particularly around Gaza City, where famine conditions have been documented.
It remains uncertain when the halt in aid deliveries will take effect. As of Saturday, there had been no airdrops for several days, marking a significant shift from the almost daily deliveries witnessed in prior weeks. Israel’s military did not provide comments regarding the status of airdrops or how it plans to assist Palestinians amid this major shift in the population dynamics of Gaza, which is home to over two million people.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has raised alarms about the potential evacuation of Palestinians from the north. Mirjana Spoljaric, the organization’s president, stated, “Such an evacuation would trigger a massive population movement that no area in the Gaza Strip can absorb, given the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the extreme shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical care.”
In recent days, hundreds of residents have begun to flee Gaza City, taking their few remaining belongings on pickup trucks or donkey carts. Many of these individuals have already been displaced multiple times. Tragically, on Saturday, Israeli gunfire reportedly killed four people attempting to secure aid in central Gaza, according to health officials at Al-Awda Hospital, where the deceased were brought. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that at least 15 people died and over 206 others were injured while seeking aid in the past 24 hours. Additionally, the ministry stated that 10 individuals succumbed to starvation and malnutrition during that same period, including three children.
Since the onset of the conflict, at least 63,371 Palestinians have lost their lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is affiliated with the Hamas-run government. While the ministry does not specify the number of fighters versus civilians, it notes that approximately half of the deceased are women and children. The United Nations and independent experts regard this ministry as a reliable source for casualty figures.
As the military offensive continues, 48 hostages remain in Gaza from the more than 250 individuals taken during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials believe that around 20 hostages are still alive. Families of the hostages fear that the escalation of military actions will jeopardize their safety, prompting plans for a rally on Saturday evening to advocate for a ceasefire that would facilitate the return of all hostages.
