Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested the mediation of the regional head of the International Red Cross, Julien Leriço, to ensure the provision of food and medical care for hostages still being held in Gaza. In a post on platform X, he stated that during his communication with Leriço, he emphasized that while Hamas spreads propaganda about Palestinian starvation, it condemns Israeli hostages to starvation. “The world cannot remain indifferent to shocking images reminiscent of Nazi crimes,” he stressed.
The Israeli prime minister added that he demanded the international community condemn the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad and cease all forms of support to them, direct or indirect. He also emphasized to Leriço that the actions of these terrorist organizations violate international law and the Geneva Convention.
Gaza: Six more people died from hunger or malnutrition in the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that six more people died from hunger or malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the ongoing famine, according to humanitarian organizations, to 175 since the war began, including 93 children.
Israel stated it allowed fuel deliveries to the Palestinian enclave. Specifically, COGAT, the Israeli military service that coordinates aid, later announced that four UN fuel tankers entered the Gaza Strip to meet the needs of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services.
Reuters could not immediately confirm whether the fuel trucks entered Gaza from Egypt.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that fuel shortages have severely affected hospital services, forcing doctors to focus only on treating critically ill patients or the wounded.
Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted aid flow to the enclave in what it characterized as pressure on Hamas fighters to release the remaining hostages they have held since October 2023 when they attacked Israel.
Israel: Blames Hamas for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
Israel blames Hamas for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, but facing growing international outcry, it announced measures last week to allow more humanitarian aid entry, such as ceasing fighting for certain hours of the day in specific areas, approving airdrops, and announcing protected routes for road convoys carrying aid.
UN services say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must allow much more aid entry by land and permit access to the area to prevent famine among 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced and living among ruins.
COGAT stated that during the past week, 1,200 trucks carrying over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid entered Gaza, but hundreds of these trucks have not yet been transported to aid distribution centers.
