Israel has announced it will gradually and in a controlled manner allow the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip through local Palestinian traders, according to COGAT — the Israeli military agency overseeing aid coordination.
“This decision aims to increase the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza while reducing dependency on distribution through the United Nations and other international organizations,” the agency said on August 5.
The announcement follows heightened international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Last week, Hamas — the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union — stated it was preparing to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages held in Gaza, contingent upon certain conditions being met by Israel.
Hamas’ statement came shortly after a video surfaced showing a visibly frail hostage, prompting harsh criticism from Western powers and renewed calls for access and transparency.
UN officials and Palestinian representatives say nearly 600 aid trucks are required daily to meet the humanitarian needs of the population in Gaza — a figure that Israel reportedly permitted before the war began.
The ongoing war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel initiated a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its reporting.
Israeli officials estimate that 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with only around 20 believed to be alive. So far, Hamas has prevented humanitarian organizations from accessing the hostages, leaving families with little to no information about their loved ones’ conditions.
