The United States has said that it would continue air dropping aid into Gaza, despite calls for stopping the practice after 18 people died trying to reach food packages.
The UN has warned that at least one-third of the people are on the brink of a “man-made famine” after nearly six months of war.
Hamas has opposed the US move and instead has demanded that Israel allow more aid trucks into Gaza.
Fighting continued even after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding “immediate ceasefire” and urging the release of about 140 Israeli hostages. At least 12 people including children were killed in an airstrike in Gaza.
The Israeli offensive which started after Hamas’s October 7 attack has shattered Gaza’s infrastructure and aid agencies say at least 2.4 million people are in need of humanitarian help.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said that more aid needs to be urgently rushed into Gaza by road rather than air or sea to avert an “imminent famine”.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel can only achieve its aims of dismantling Hamas and returning scores of hostages if it expands its ground offensive to the southern city of Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s population has sought refuge, many in crowded tent camps. The U.S. has said a major assault on Rafah would be a mistake.
“Israel will not surrender to Hamas’ delusional demands and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war: releasing all the hostages, destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and ensuring that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel.”
Hamas has made it clear that it will hold onto hostages until Israel agrees to a more permanent ceasefire, withdraws its forces from Gaza and releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including top militants, who are currently in Israeli jails.
