Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first press conference of the year, revealing that only 20 of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza are believed to be alive. He emphasized that Israel aims to bring the entire Gaza Strip under its security control by the end of the ongoing war. Netanyahu defended controversial plans to involve private U.S. companies in delivering aid, claiming they would prevent a humanitarian disaster, despite widespread international warnings that a crisis is already underway.
Global Pressure Mounts As Aid Stalls And Gaza Faces Growing Humanitarian And Health Crisis
Netanyahu’s comments sparked immediate backlash from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which called on him to sign an agreement to secure the release of all hostages and end the war. Meanwhile, global attention focused on whether the aid piled up near Gaza’s main crossing would finally be distributed.
Though the World Food Programme later confirmed that aid movement had begun, it stated that no actual distribution had taken place by evening. The Israeli military claimed that 100 trucks loaded with essential goods like flour, baby food, and medical supplies had entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Netanyahu Says Most Hostages Dead as Gaza Crisis Deepens and Aid Efforts FalterInternational aid organizations and experts continue to warn of an imminent famine in Gaza. The dire situation is compounded by Israeli airstrikes and ongoing military operations, which have critically weakened the health system. The World Health Organization noted that intensified attacks and fresh evacuation orders are pushing Gaza’s medical infrastructure past its limits. Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza was reported out of service due to the violence, according to the NGO MedGlobal.
Escalating Gaza Tensions Amid Civil Unrest, Military Warnings, And Aid Delivery Disputes
Tensions within Gaza are not only fueled by Israeli military action but also by growing internal dissent. For the third consecutive day, Palestinians in southern Gaza have protested against Hamas, reflecting frustration with the group’s governance amid the crisis. Concurrently, the Israeli military reiterated warnings for northern Gaza residents to move south, stating it would target any area launching rockets. These warnings signal continued military escalation and civilian displacement.
Delays in aid distribution stem largely from disputes over delivery routes. According to the World Food Programme’s Antoine Renard, the Israeli Defense Forces insisted on routes deemed unsafe by aid agencies due to the threat of attacks by desperate civilians and armed gangs.
With each flour truck valued at around $400,000, security and efficiency are paramount. Renard criticized the Israeli-American proposal to use private firms for aid delivery, warning it would force 2.1 million Gazans to travel long distances for food. He stressed that food should reach the people, not the reverse, calling the plan a political maneuver rather than a practical solution.
