Israel is set to halt humanitarian airdrops over Gaza City
and reduce aid truck arrivals into northern Gaza, preparing for an expanded
military offensive. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns
that a mass evacuation of Gaza City is unfeasible due to catastrophic shortages
and infrastructure damage.
Israel's Military Escalation and Aid Suspension
As reported by The Associated Press via an anonymous Israeli
official, Israel plans to stop humanitarian airdrops over Gaza City in the
coming days and reduce the entry of aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip. This move is part of Israel's strategy to force hundreds of thousands of
Gaza residents to evacuate southwards ahead of an intensified military ground
offensive against Hamas in Gaza City, a territory labelled by Israel as a Hamas
stronghold.
The official indicated that evacuation orders for Gaza
City's roughly 800,000 residents will likely be issued within about ten days.
Israel had earlier declared Gaza City a "combat zone," with the
Israeli military alleging that Hamas continues to operate a network of tunnels
despite prior extensive raids.
Intensified Military Campaign in Gaza City
Since resuming active strikes, the Israeli military has
ramped up bombardments around Gaza City, signalling the imminent expansion of
its ground campaign. Eyewitnesses and health officials report several large
explosions across the city outskirts. On Saturday, Israeli gunfire reportedly
killed four people attempting to access aid in central Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has framed the
operation as targeting what remains the last bastion of Hamas in Gaza,
emphasising that the conflict will continue until Hamas is disarmed.
Humanitarian Crisis and Red Cross Warning
Humanitarian authorities are raising alarms over the
consequences of the pending large-scale evacuation and the halt of aid
deliveries. Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the
Red Cross, issued a statement warning that a mass evacuation of Gaza City
would trigger a massive population movement that no part of the Gaza Strip can
absorb. Spoljaric underscored the extensive destruction of infrastructure and
severe shortages in food, water, shelter, and medical care making a safe and
dignified evacuation impossible.
Recent reports reveal that Gaza City is already facing
famine conditions, with half a million people across the Strip experiencing
catastrophic hunger. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that ten individuals,
including three children, died of starvation and malnutrition within the past
24 hours alone.
Impact on Gaza Residents
Despite repeated warnings and the intensifying conflict,
many Gaza City residents have begun to flee, often carrying whatever scant
belongings they can on donkey carts or pickup trucks. Many have been forced to
abandon their homes multiple times due to the advancing conflict and
destruction.
The United Nations reported that 23,000 people fled Gaza
City within the past week. However, many displaced persons express that there
is no safe destination available within the besieged territory due to
widespread destruction and resource shortages.
Previous Aid and Tactical Pauses
Until recently, Israel had instituted partial tactical
pauses allowing some humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, with daily airdrops taking
place over the Strip. However, these have been suspended without clear
indication of when or if they will resume. Israeli military spokesperson
Avichay Adraee has urged Palestinians to evacuate southwards, calling it
"inevitable" amid the renewed military campaign.
Legal and International Context
Israel's military operations have come under international
scrutiny, including war crime indictments issued by the International Criminal
Court against Israeli leaders and genocide complaints filed at the
International Court of Justice for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Israel's decision to halt humanitarian airdrops and reduce aid into northern Gaza reflects an escalated military strategy aiming to facilitate a large-scale offensive in Gaza City and force Palestinian evacuation southwards. The move worsens an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis marked by famine, massive displacement, and severe shortages of essentials. The Red Cross highlights the impracticality and dangers of any mass evacuation, raising major humanitarian concerns as the conflict enters a critical and volatile phase.