Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advised that humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip should be halted. He proposed allowing only limited air force explosives until hostages are freed, a remark reported by Ynet. The statement followed news of a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital that resulted in a large number of casualties.
Earlier, the United Nations noted that a substantial displacement crisis persisted in Gaza, with many Palestinians living as internally displaced persons. The conflict escalated on 7 October when Hamas forces fired thousands of rockets into Israel and launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Militants reportedly seized multiple military assets and took more than one hundred hostages. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the nation was at war.
The Israeli military operation, named Iron Swords, aimed to degrade Hamas capabilities. The Israeli Air Force conducted extensive strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, while the National Security Council decided to restrict water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the enclave. By 13 October, the UN warned that 1.1 million Palestinians should be evacuated toward southern Gaza within 24 hours in preparation for a possible ground campaign.
Across the border, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement announced plans for a day of wrath against Israel on October 18, signaling a broader regional dimension to the conflict as tensions rose and regional actors weighed their next moves.
The situation drew wide international concern and calls for humanitarian access amid ongoing hostilities. Observers emphasized the need for protection of civilians, access to medical care, and safe corridors for aid deliveries while military operations continued in affected areas. Throughout the crisis, official statements stressed the importance of avoiding actions that could worsen civilian suffering while seeking to achieve strategic objectives. Attribution: United Nations reports, government briefings, and expert analyses (UN, 2023).