Israel is reportedly considering reducing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza following Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, a measure aimed at limiting resources available to Hamas, according to an Israeli official.
Since October 7, Israel has been conducting military operations in Gaza with the goal of dismantling Hamas. However, officials claim that aid is being exploited by the group to maintain its governance in the region. This potential reduction in aid raises concerns about worsening the already critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The humanitarian aid is not reaching the right hands,” the official stated, noting that this is one of several options being evaluated.
As per the sources of Leaders team, Humanitarian organizations have consistently urged for increased aid to Gaza, warning of severe consequences, including famine, for its civilian population. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 2,205 aid trucks entered Gaza in December, a figure that excludes commercial vehicles and fuel.
Israel, however, disputes this number, with the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reporting that over 5,000 trucks delivered aid to Gaza during the same period. Before the conflict, an average of 500 aid trucks entered Gaza daily, totaling about 15,000 per month.
According to the reports of the Leaders team, currently, 91% of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to OCHA data.
In October, shortly before the U.S. presidential election, the Biden administration sent a formal communication to Israel demanding improvements in Gaza’s humanitarian conditions. The letter warned that failure to act within 30 days could risk U.S. foreign military aid to Israel, suggesting a potential review of its terms. The demands included permitting at least 350 aid trucks per day into Gaza and implementing temporary combat pauses to secure humanitarian operations.
Following Trump’s election victory and the lapse of the 30-day deadline, the Biden administration concluded that Israel was not actively blocking aid, despite some demands remaining unmet. U.S. officials indicated that progress had been observed, and military aid to Israel continued without disruption.
Additionally, on Friday, the U.S. State Department informed Congress of its intention to proceed with an $8 billion arms sale to Israel, signaling ongoing support for its key ally in the region.
