Israeli strikes pounded Gaza and killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight and into Tuesday, hitting a family home and a school-turned-shelter, local health officials said, as Israel pressed its new military offensive against Hamas despite mounting international condemnation.
Dozens of aid trucks began entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday afternoon, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said. They included flour for bakeries, food for community soup kitchens, baby food and medical supplies. Organisations in Gaza did not immediately confirm whether they had received supplies. Marmorstein said Israel would continue to allow dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid per day – far less than the 600 per day that entered during the latest ceasefire.
Israel had agreed to allow a “minimal” amount of aid into the territory of over 2 million people after a nearly three-month blockade that prevented the entry of food, medicine and fuel, among other goods. The blockade prompted warnings from food experts of a risk of famine. The first few trucks entered on Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he made the decision to let in limited aid after pressure from allies, who he said couldn’t support Israel so long as “images of hunger” were coming out of Gaza.
Criticism of Israel’s conduct intensified on Monday when allies Canada, France and the United Kingdom threatened “concrete actions” against the country, including sanctions, and called on Israel to stop its “egregious” new military actions in Gaza. Netanyahu rejected the criticism, saying it was “a huge prize” for Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that would invite more such violence.
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