The Sabra Report | Pressure Cooker

Recap:

After three months of a near-total blockade, Israel has begun allowing limited humanitarian aid into Gaza. The decision was driven by mounting international pressure. While early warnings of famine from international agencies were overblown, Israeli government officials have now acknowledged that basic aid must resume to prevent a full-blown humanitarian collapse.

The Context:

·      The war in Gaza was sparked by the Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and left 251 others as hostages in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory war has destroyed large swaths of the strip and displaced 90% of its population. Israel is pressing forward with a renewed military campaign to unseat Hamas and release the remaining 58 hostages still held in Gaza.

·      During the January ceasefire, Hamas was reportedly given over seven months' worth of food, fuel, and medicine that were depleted in under three. Israeli officials believe the supplies are being used to sustain Hamas's ongoing war effort, either by nourishing its fighters or being sold to civilians for a premium.

·      Israel aims to create a more controlled distribution model in which a single family member travels to specified distribution points to retrieve family food allocations. Aid organizations argue the system forces people to the food instead of the other way around. Israel says the likelihood food will be diverted en masse to Hamas is significantly lower. Israel has made repeated attempts to establish secure aid distribution points in Gaza, but efforts have been obstructed by logistical complexity, unstable security conditions, and concerns over aid diversion to Hamas.

·      In response to Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, the UK has suspended its free trade agreement negotiations with Israel. British officials labeled Israel's policy as "indefensible" and sanctioned several West Bank settler groups. The European Union is considering similar action, reviewing its cooperation agreement with Israel amid accusations of human rights violations. Even President Donald Trump has stated publicly that the war needs to end but still insists that this is Israel’s war to manage.

·      This week, four rockets were launched from northern Gaza at Israel.

Conversation Points:

·      Can Israel maintain international support while pursuing its current military and humanitarian strategy?

·      Can aid reach civilians without empowering Hamas?

·      Will a ceasefire without concessions embolden Hamas?

·      What is an appropriate reaction to a rocket attack on one’s country?

·      Why doesn’t the UK or EU pressure Hamas to release the hostages?

Notes:

·      “UN says it has ‘collected and dispatched’ 90 truckloads of aid into Gaza,” Times of Israel, May 21, 2025

·      “‘Indefensible’: UK freezes trade talks with Israel amid global outrage over Gaza war,” Times of Israel, May 20, 2025

·      “Israel lets limited aid into Gaza, as Netanyahu says allies can't tolerate ‘images of mass famine’,” CBS News, May 20, 2025

·      “Movement of aid 'under way' but no distribution yet within Gaza,” BBC, May 21, 2025

·      “Our children are dying slowly,” Reuters, May 21, 2025

·      “Israel says it will allow a ‘basic quantity’ of food into Gaza to prevent starvation,” NPR, May 19, 2025

·      “Humanitarian Aid Returns to Gaza—and Hamas,” Wall Street Journal, May 21, 2025

·      “Joint statement from the leaders of the UK, France and Canada,” UK Government, May 19, 2025

·      “Trump warns of aid optics, says Israel must lead war management,” CBS News, May 20, 2025