Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel will "take control" of Gaza, as the first humanitarian aid trucks in over two months prepared to enter the besieged territory. The announcement follows intensified military operations and mounting international pressure over a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that "two million people are starving" in Gaza, with critical shortages of food, water, and medicine. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accused Israel of "deliberately withholding" aid, stating that "tonnes of food is blocked at the border" despite famine risks.
Israeli strikes on Monday killed at least 52 people, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency, while the UN human rights office condemned actions "tantamount to ethnic cleansing," citing mass displacement and systematic neighborhood destruction. Over 53,000 people have been killed in the conflict, per Gaza health authorities.
Israel’s military issued evacuation orders for Khan Younis ahead of an "unprecedented attack," expanding ground operations against Hamas. The offensive began after Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing war.
While Israel claims its blockade aims to pressure Hamas, aid agencies urge immediate access to prevent further civilian suffering. Limited deliveries of baby food are expected this week, but experts say far more is needed to avert catastrophe.
