War in the Middle East: Aid in the Gaza Strip should continue

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is reopening one of its humanitarian aid distribution centers in central Gaza today. The foundation announced this early this morning on its Arabic Facebook page. The previous day, the GHF aid centers remained closed due to "direct threats" from the Islamist Hamas.

Due to the "large influx," the GHF announced the temporary closure of its distribution centers in Gaza on Friday. Threats from Hamas also made reopening the following day impossible "without endangering the lives of innocent people," it said. About two weeks ago, Israel eased its blockade on all aid deliveries to the sealed-off Gaza Strip . The GHF took over the distribution of aid supplies.

The controversial organization circumvents UN aid agencies and other initiatives. It has been accused of endangering civilians and violating standards of neutral aid. Israel , however, says it wants to prevent Hamas from appropriating the aid supplies.

About two weeks ago, Israel eased its blockade on aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The GHF took over the distribution of aid. The organization circumvents UN aid agencies and other initiatives. It has been accused of endangering civilians and violating standards of neutral aid. Israel, however, says it wants to prevent Hamas from appropriating the aid supplies.

This Monday, activists led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg plan to arrive off the coast of Gaza on their sailing ship "Madleen," as they announced on Instagram. The group says it wants to deliver relief supplies such as baby food and medical supplies to the people in need in the war zone, while also drawing international attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to a media report, however, Israeli security authorities are not allowing the ship to dock.

Meanwhile, in Israel, thousands of people took to the streets in several cities this evening to protest against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demand the release of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip. According to the Times of Israel, the daughter of a slain hostage accused the government at a rally in Tel Aviv of prolonging the war, which has been going on for more than a year and a half, at the expense of the abducted people. According to local reports, security forces violently cracked down on anti-war demonstrators on the sidelines.

Shortly before, the Israeli military announced the recovery of the body of a Thai hostage in the Gaza Strip. The man's remains were found during a special operation near Rafah in southern Gaza. The Thai national had been abducted from Israel along with approximately 250 other people during the terrorist attack by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7, 2023, and taken to Gaza. While held hostage, he was killed by members of the Mujahideen Brigades.

According to the Israeli military, their leader was killed during a special operation in the northern city of Gaza, the army announced. Among other things, Asad Abu Sharia was involved in the kidnapping of German citizen Shiri Bibas and her two young sons in the coastal region and their murder. Video footage of the terrified mother and her children taken during the kidnapping went around the world. They became symbols of the terrorist attack in Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed. It triggered the war.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, tens of thousands of Palestinians have since been killed. Israel's actions in the now largely devastated coastal region have met with massive international criticism. In Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu is accused of clinging to power. According to media reports, he could now face a fateful week due to a dispute over conscription for devout religious men.

Strictly religious men in Israel were long exempt from military service. This exemption expired last year. The government was unable to establish a new one. After a failed attempt to compromise, rabbis of the United Torah Judaism party announced their withdrawal from Netanyahu's right-wing religious coalition. If the strictly religious Shas also defected, the government would lose its majority in parliament. Whether a last-minute agreement could be reached remains unclear. Opposition parties plan to push for the dissolution of parliament next week. According to polls, Netanyahu's political opponents would win a majority in early elections.