Global pressure is mounting on Israel after a renewed military campaign in Gaza has resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths in recent days.
On Monday, leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada issued a stern warning, stating they may impose targeted sanctions on Israel if it continues its ground operations and blocks humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza.
Israel’s new ground assault, launched over the weekend, came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump left the region without brokering a ceasefire or hostage agreement.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), troops have advanced into both northern and southern Gaza as part of the ongoing “Gideon’s Chariots” mission — a campaign Israel said it would initiate unless Hamas agreed to a new hostage deal on its terms.
The offensive follows several days of intensive air raids that health officials in Gaza say have decimated entire families.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israel would permit a minimal amount of food aid into Gaza, a move he acknowledged was due in part to growing international pressure. On Monday, Israeli officials confirmed that five aid trucks were allowed into the enclave. However, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher criticized the delivery as inadequate, calling it “a drop in the ocean” compared to what is urgently required.
This escalation comes amid indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas taking place in Doha, Qatar, which began on Saturday.
On May 5, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the expansion of military operations in Gaza. The IDF later stated the campaign’s objective was to achieve all remaining war goals — namely, defeating Hamas and rescuing hostages still held in Gaza.
Netanyahu declared Monday that Israel aims to “gain full control of the entire Gaza Strip.”
After negotiations during Trump’s visit failed to produce a ceasefire, Israel proceeded with intensified military actions. The current operation began with a wave of airstrikes, followed by expanded ground incursions starting Sunday.
The IDF reported hitting over 670 Hamas targets last week alone. On Monday morning, one of the strikes damaged a medical warehouse in Khan Younis, according to UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Gazan health authorities reported 136 deaths in the past 24 hours alone, including entire families killed in their sleep. The enclave’s last operational hospital in the north was also shut down.
Since last Thursday, over 400 people have died and more than 1,000 have been injured, based on data compiled by CNN from the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry also reports over 53,000 deaths since Israel began its military campaign on October 7, 2023 — with most casualties being women and children.
The Israeli government announced Sunday that it would permit limited food deliveries into Gaza, citing operational needs. Officials say they want to prevent widespread famine, which could hinder their military objectives.
Netanyahu admitted that continued refusal to lift the 11-week blockade could damage Israel’s alliances, especially with the U.S., as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
The United Nations has warned that Gaza’s population of over 2.1 million people is at imminent risk of famine after nearly 19 months of war and displacement.
UK, French, and Canadian leaders issued a joint statement urging Israel to halt its offensive and allow humanitarian aid to flow freely.
“If Israel does not cease its renewed military actions and remove restrictions on aid, we will implement further concrete measures,” the statement said — with targeted sanctions among the options under consideration.
Netanyahu responded by accusing the leaders of rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attack on Israel and encouraging further violence.
In a separate appeal, foreign ministers from 23 nations — including France, Germany, Italy, and the UK — and EU officials demanded a full restoration of humanitarian access to Gaza. They called on Israel to allow humanitarian workers to operate “independently and impartially.”
The statement noted, “Though there are signs of limited aid resumption, Gaza has been cut off from life-saving resources for more than two months. Food, medicine, and essential supplies are nearly depleted, and the population is on the brink of starvation.”
A controversial U.S.-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported Israel’s announcement as a temporary solution while the organization prepares to take full control of aid distribution. The foundation, created to prevent aid from falling into Hamas’s hands, has been approved by both Israel and the U.S.
The initial GHF-controlled aid centers are planned for southern and central Gaza. However, critics argue this could align with Israel’s alleged strategy of forcing civilians out of northern Gaza, a goal recently acknowledged by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
GHF executive director Jake Wood said Israel has now agreed to permit the foundation to set up two distribution sites in northern Gaza. He anticipates they could be operational within a month but added that it remains unclear how many aid trucks will be authorized or when they’ll arrive.
Wood believes much of the humanitarian sector’s skepticism about GHF is based on misunderstandings.
Human rights advocates have condemned the Israeli-American aid plan, saying it risks militarizing relief efforts, endangering civilians, and promoting displacement.
The head of UNICEF criticized the GHF mechanism as “unworkable,” warning that it could “weaponize aid intended for women and children.”
“Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal duty to ensure aid reaches civilians,” said UNICEF spokesperson James Elder on CNN. “Even though this is one of the deadliest conflicts for aid workers, many remain ready to help — but they must be allowed access.”
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher rejected the need for a new aid mechanism altogether, stating, “We already have a plan that works. Let’s not waste time.”
In one of the most forceful denunciations by a UN official, Fletcher accused the international community of risking complicity in what he called a potential genocide. Addressing the UN Security Council, he said: “Will you act decisively to stop genocide and uphold humanitarian law — or simply claim, ‘we did all we could.
Source: CNN
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