Gaza: The Israeli military has announced plans to resume airdrops of aid in Gaza as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Humanitarian corridors will be established to facilitate the movement of United Nations convoys, the military said in a statement issued late Saturday. This announcement follows reports of at least 53 people being killed overnight, most of them victims of gunfire while waiting for aid trucks.
According to France24.com, the statement came after increasing reports of starvation-related deaths in Gaza, with experts warning of an impending famine. International criticism of Israel has intensified, with several hundred Palestinians killed in recent weeks as they tried to access aid. Despite the announcement, the military did not specify when or where the humanitarian corridors would open. They did, however, express readiness to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas.
Medical staff at Shifa hospital reported that the majority of the victims were shot near the Zikim crossing with Israel. The Israeli army has yet to comment on the recent shootings. Among those killed in strikes were four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, according to hospital staff and ambulance services.
The announcement of aid resumption occurs as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled. Both the U.S. and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams on Thursday, creating further uncertainty about the future of the talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his government is considering alternatives to ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. Meanwhile, a Hamas official suggested that the recall of negotiating teams was a pressure tactic, with talks expected to resume next week.
Egypt and Qatar, mediators alongside the United States, described the pause in talks as temporary, without specifying a timeline for resumption. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the United Nations and experts cautioning that Palestinians face a risk of famine. Despite Israel's claims of unrestricted aid entry, the U.N. reports facing military restrictions and incidents of looting.
The Zikim crossing shootings occurred days after 80 Palestinians were killed attempting to access aid via the same route. Israel's military previously stated that soldiers fired at a threatening gathering of thousands of Palestinians, acknowledging some casualties.
International pressure on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is mounting. Over two dozen Western-aligned nations and more than 100 charity and human rights organizations have criticized Israel's blockade and called for an end to the conflict. The charities and rights groups report that even their staff struggle to secure adequate food supplies.
For the first time in months, Israel has agreed to allow airdrops, a request made by Jordan. A Jordanian official stated that the airdrops would primarily consist of food and milk formula. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated in a newspaper article that the U.K. is working with Jordan to expedite British aid into Gaza.
The World Central Kitchen, an aid organization, announced it would resume limited cooking operations in Deir al-Balah after a temporary halt due to food shortages. The organization aims to serve 60,000 meals daily through its field kitchen and partner community kitchens, significantly fewer than in previous months.