Pressure point: Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of its operation

Due to international pressure, Israel has promised to allow a basic amount of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, fearing a worsening food crisis. At the same time, the IDF is expanding its ground operation in the exclave, striking along the entire perimeter and declaring the goal of completely eliminating the combat potential of the Palestinian Hamas movement. Meanwhile, indirect ceasefire talks are continuing in Doha, but the parties are still far from a compromise. Hamas said that the United States had not properly assessed the release of the American hostage.

A new Israeli military operation

On May 18, the Israeli army announced the start of extensive ground operations around the entire perimeter of Gaza as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots. The IDF forces entered a significant depth and occupied key positions in strategic areas. "The strikes are targeted at Hamas structures. The army is acting in accordance with the task of completely eliminating the combat potential of the group," it follows from her statement.

Against the backdrop of a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 19 the deployment of a network of distribution points to ensure access to humanitarian aid for the local population. According to the Prime Minister's office, limited food imports will be allowed into the sector, "to the extent necessary to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe."

At the same time, the Israeli army began a massive advance in both the northern and southern parts of the exclave. The authorities claim that humanitarian supplies will not fall into the hands of Hamas, and the goal of the new phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots remains the release of hostages and the defeat of the Palestinian movement.

Earlier, the United Nations, as well as in a number of Western capitals, called for immediate relief of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where, according to human rights activists, millions of people are on the verge of starvation.

"The army recommended that the government allow a basic amount of food into the sector in order to prevent the development of a crisis that could jeopardize the operation," the Prime minister's office said in a statement. It stresses that Israel will take measures to ensure that humanitarian aid is not seized by Hamas.

The fighting resumed on March 18 after a two-month relative truce. At that time, Israel accused Hamas of disrupting the negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. In response, the Palestinian movement blamed the escalation on the Jewish State, saying that it was Israel's actions that undermined the prospect of a long-term settlement.

As part of the preparatory phase of the new phase of the operation, the Israeli armed forces launched a series of massive air and artillery strikes on various areas of the Gaza Strip. Both the capital of the exclave, Gaza City, and southern settlements, including Rafah, Khan Yunis, Nuseirat and other territories where, according to the Israeli military, Hamas positions and infrastructure are located, came under fire.

The Israeli Army's press service reported the destruction of at least 670 objects related to the Palestinian movement. These include ammunition depots, weapons arsenals, underground tunnels, locations of anti-tank missile systems, as well as concentrations of Hamas personnel.

As a result of the strikes, Muhammad Sinwar, the head of the military wing of Hamas and the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of the movement in Gaza, who died on October 16, 2024, was killed.

The negotiation process in Qatar

The victims of the current phase of the operation may be Israeli hostages held in Gaza since October 2023. According to CNN, Hamas has allegedly expressed its willingness to release up to nine people in exchange for a two-month cease-fire. However, the movement has officially denied this.

"These are false reports, the purpose of which is to disorient public opinion and put pressure on the resistance," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. He added that no deal is possible without a "complete and comprehensive cease-fire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip."

According to Abu Zuhri, as a gesture of goodwill, Hamas has already released Eden Alexander, a citizen of the United States and Israel, but, as he claims, the United States did not properly evaluate this.

At the same time, the Vice President of the United States, J. D. Vance, canceled a planned visit to Israel this week after the IDF expanded the scale of its military operation in the Gaza Strip, the Axios portal reported, citing American sources. Vance decided to cancel the trip in order not to create the impression that the administration of US President Donald Trump supports this step by the Israeli authorities, the portal writes.

— The only side capable of putting pressure on the Israeli leadership is the United States and President Trump. In the last period, we have seen some distance between Trump and Netanyahu. Peace in the region is impossible without a solution to the Palestinian problem," Ahmed Seid, an Egyptian international relations expert, told Izvestia.

The logic of aggression and attempts to change the demographic map of Gaza will ultimately harm the interests of the United States itself and will not bring peace to Israel, the expert concluded.

Meanwhile, indirect negotiations between the parties are continuing in Doha with the participation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The Israeli delegation has been there for several days now. Netanyahu's office confirmed participation in the talks, pointing out that the Israeli side is working to use all opportunities to conclude a deal, both within the framework of the plan of the special envoy of the President of the United States, Steve Witkoff, and in order to end hostilities.

However, it has not yet been possible to bring the positions of the parties closer. Israel demands the disarmament of Hamas, the expulsion of its leadership from the strip and the demilitarization of Gaza. Hamas, in turn, insists on a complete ceasefire, the opening of checkpoints, the admission of humanitarian aid and the start of a large-scale reconstruction program of the enclave.