Israel will ease its blockade and let limited amounts of food into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday, after the military announced it had begun “extensive ground operations” in the northern and southern parts of the enclave.
Facing mounting pressure over an aid blockade it imposed in March and the risk of famine, Israel has stepped up its campaign in Gaza, where Palestinian health officials said hundreds have been killed in attacks in the past week, of which 130 occurred overnight.
Netanyahu’s office also said that at the military’s recommendation, “Israel will authorize the entry of a basic amount of food for the population to ensure that a hunger crisis does not develop in the Gaza Strip”.
Such a crisis would jeopardize the army’s new operation, it said, adding Israel would “act to prevent Hamas from seizing this humanitarian aid.” More here
