Middle East: Israel allows Gaza aid for 'diplomatic reasons'

As the Israeli army is heading on with its operation Gideon's Chariots in Gaza, it has warned civilians to leave no-go zones where military action is imminent. But where should people go if even "safe zones" come under fire?

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for the exclusion of Israel from international cultural events such as the Eurovision Song Contest due its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip, drawing parallels with Russia's isolation following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture," said Sanchez, a socialist and consistent critic of Israeli policies in occupied Palestinian territory.

"No one was shocked three years ago when Russia was asked to withdraw from international competitions after it invaded Ukraine and not participate, for example, at Eurovision," he reasoned. "Therefore, Israel should not do so either."

Israeli artist Yuval Raphael won the televote at the Eurovision song contest on Saturday night, despite calls from pro-Palestinian groups for the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel. This year's Eurovision, which always stresses its political neutrality, was won overall by Austria.

But Sanchez, speaking at a press conference in Madrid, criticized the idea of a "bland, silent, equidistant cultural sector" and called on artists to stand up for threatened values such as democracy and peace.

In October 2024, Sanchez urged the European Union and wider international community to follow Madrid's example and stop selling weapons to Israel.

In May 2024, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, formally recognized a unified Palestinian state governed by the Palestinian Authority and with East Jerusalem as its capital — a decision Israel condemned as a boost for the Palestinian Islamist militant outfit Hamas.

The European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada have expressed strong criticism of Israel over its continuing military operations in the Gaza Strip, as the humanitarian situation in the enclave continues to deteriorate.

"The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law," read a joint statement released by the British government on Monday.

"We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank," it continued, before warning: "We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation in Gaza "really serious, unacceptable, intolerable," and said discussions were underway at the level of heads of state to find a resolution.

EU Council President Antonio Costa demanded that Israel halt its military operations, and called on the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages immediately. He also emphasized the need for a two-state solution.

"We are convinced that the only solution is the two-state solution," concurred EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The United Nations (UN) described the entry of a small number of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip on Monday as "a drop in ocean of what is urgently needed" as the humanitarian crisis in the enclave worsens.

"Today, nine of our trucks were cleared to enter via the Kerem Shalom crossing," said UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher after Israeli forces permitted the first aid deliveries to the besieged Palestinian population after 11 weeks of total blockade.

"The limited quantities of aid now being allowed into Gaza are of course no substitute for unimpeded access to civilians in such dire need," Fletcher continued.

"Given [the] ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant," he warned.

The Israeli military said that the first five aid trucks had been allowed into Gaza on Monday, carrying supplies "including food for babies."

The UN has repeatedly said Gaza needs at least 500 trucks of aid and commercial goods every day. According to the World Food Program, more than 116,000 metric tons of food is standing ready to be delivered — enough to feed 1 million people for up to four months.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will take control of the entire Gaza Strip, as the military escalated its offensive in the territory.

"The fighting is intense, and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip," Netanyahu said in a video posted to his Telegram channel.

"We will not give up. But, in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped."

Netanyahu said the aim was to have an area entirely controlled by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) where the entire civilian population of Gaza could receive the aid, with Hamas receiving nothing.

"This is part of defeating Hamas, in parallel with the tremendous military pressure, our massive entry, to essentially take over all of Gaza and strip Hamas of all ability to plunder humanitarian aid. This is the war and victory plan."

Gaza's Hamas-controlled Health Ministry on Sunday said at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed its strikes on March 18, bringing the total death toll in the war to 53,339.

Hamas' October 2023 attack, which triggered the ongoing war, killed 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians.

Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, Israel and Germany.

The Israeli military has ordered residents of Khan Younis and nearby towns in the southern Gaza Strip to evacuate immediately, warning of an "unprecedented attack."

The alert, issued Monday in Arabic, called on civilians to flee to the al-Mawasi area near the Mediterranean coast. The military said it was launching an operation in Khan Younis targeting "terrorist organizations" and warned the area would become a "dangerous combat zone."

This marks a new wave of displacement, following Israel's March order for large numbers of residents to leave the city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.

The evacuation order comes as Israel steps up its air and ground campaign against Hamas. Witnesses told the DPA news agency that around 30 airstrikes hit Khan Younis overnight, describing a sharp escalation in the second-largest city in Gaza.

Two million people are starving in the Gaza Strip, with the deliberate blocking of aid driving up the risk of famine, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO and other UN agencies are ready to deliver aid into the Palestinian territory — if and when they are allowed to enter.

"Two months into the latest blockade, 2 million people are starving," Tedros said, adding that 160,000 metric tons of food "is blocked at the border just minutes away."

"The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade."

Israel says its blockade, in place since March 2, is intended to pressure the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now said his government will allow limited food aid into the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that preventing famine in Gaza is necessary for reasons of diplomacy, as his government announced it would allow limited food aid into the territory.

"We must not let the population [of Gaza] sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons," Netanyahu said in a video posted to his Telegram channel. He warned that even Israel's allies would not accept "images of mass starvation."

The decision to ease the more than two-month aid blockade drew criticism from far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition, who opposed the move. Netanyahu described that criticism as "natural" and called the decision "difficult, but necessary."

Israel has said the blockade, in place since March 2, was intended to pressure the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. However, international pressure has mounted to resume aid deliveries, with UN agencies warning of severe shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicine in Gaza.

The territory is at "critical risk of famine," according to the UN- and NGO-supported Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which this month reported that 22% of Gaza's population is facing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.

US President Donald Trump's administration has maintained strong support for Israel and has largely refrained from criticizing its military campaign against Hamas. It has instead held the militant group responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

However, US officials have begun to express growing concern over the impact on civilians.

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has said he's resumed limited aid to Gaza after weeks of blockade, following pressure from key allies.

The Israeli prime minister said allies had warned they could not fully support Israel's war effort while "images of hunger" continue to emerge from Gaza.

The shift has come as international concern over the humanitarian crisis has been mounting.

Meanwhile, Israel's military has ordered the evacuation of Gaza's second-largest city, Khan Younis.

This blog will bring you the latest news from Gaza, Israel and the wider Middle East region.