In recent hours, 193 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the sector where roughly two million residents live. Reports from the Office for the Coordination of Activities in the Government of Israel in the Palestinian Territories indicate that these deliveries were organized to support temporary shelters, food distribution, water, medicine, and essential equipment. All vehicles passing through the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border underwent inspection by Israeli authorities, according to official updates from COGAT and related agencies.
There have been calls at multiple points for increased aid to the Gaza Strip. Statements from Palestinian leaders and international voices emphasized the urgent need to expand humanitarian relief efforts as the humanitarian situation deteriorates. The broader context includes the long-running conflict and the repeated requests from various authorities for sustained relief channels to be maintained in parallel with security operations.
The recent escalation in the Middle East began on October 7 when thousands of fighters linked to Hamas crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as an act of war and announced that Israel would mobilize its defenses. The declared aim of Israel’s military actions has been to repel the attack, recover hostages believed to be held in Gaza, and target militant infrastructure linked to Hamas. To support these objectives, Israeli forces began large-scale rocket fire into Gaza from the outset of the operation, while security authorities also decided to suspend certain civilian supplies, including water, food, electricity, fuel, and other essential goods to the territory as a security measure.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of its ground operation in Gaza. By November 5, IDF forces had tightened their siege of the Gaza city area by cutting off access to food supplies for portions of the population. On December 5, the third phase of the ground operation commenced, and troops moved in to isolate the Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip. These movements were part of an ongoing military campaign described by officials as a response to the initial attacks and as an attempt to degrade Hamas capabilities while seeking to secure the release of hostages.
A senior Israeli security figure has criticized the humanitarian response, arguing that the delivery of aid alone would not be sufficient until the civilian hostages are released. The comments highlighted concerns about the balance بين pressing humanitarian needs and strategic military objectives and underscored the intense debate among policymakers about how to conduct a sustained operation while minimizing civilian harm and ensuring aid reaches those in need. The situation remains highly dynamic, with international actors urging restraint, civilian protection, and continued relief access amid ongoing security concerns.