Mon May 19 01:23:22 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Israel to Allow Limited Aid into Gaza Amid Renewed Offensive, Famine Warnings**
**Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip – May 19, 2025** – Bowing to international pressure and warnings of impending famine, Israel announced Sunday it would allow a “basic” amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza, ending a nearly three-month blockade. The decision comes as Israel launched “extensive” new ground operations in the Palestinian territory, the largest since a recent ceasefire collapsed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated a “starvation crisis” would jeopardize Israel’s military operations, prompting his cabinet’s approval. However, the timing and method of aid delivery remain unclear, with the Israeli military offering no immediate comment.
The blockade, imposed on March 2, cut off vital supplies to Gaza’s two million residents while Israel pressed Hamas for new ceasefire terms. The renewed offensive has already resulted in significant casualties. Airstrikes reportedly killed at least 103 people, including dozens of children, with hospitals overwhelmed and forced to close due to direct strikes.
The military claims its operations target militant infrastructure and that civilian casualties are the responsibility of Hamas, who operate in civilian areas. However, the Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 3,000 people killed since the ceasefire ended, bringing the total Palestinian death toll since October 7, 2023, to over 53,000.
While Netanyahu claims his negotiating team is “working to realize every chance for a deal,” including the release of hostages, Hamas’s exile, and disarmament, Hamas refuses to leave Gaza or disarm.
Frustration is rising on both sides. Gazans are desperately seeking refuge amid relentless bombing, while a growing number of Israelis are refusing military service in protest of the ongoing conflict.
First Piper 