Official announcements from the U.S. State Department or major news outlets

Israel May Cut Gaza Aid to Pressure Hamas After Trump's Inauguration

Jan 4, 2025, 01:33 PM

Israel is contemplating a significant reduction in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip following the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. President on January 20, according to various reports. This move is aimed at pressuring Hamas by depriving them of resources, as stated by an Israeli official familiar with the matter. Israel has been engaged in military operations in Gaza since October 7, attempting to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, yet it claims that the group maintains governance through the appropriation of aid. The potential reduction in aid could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where relief organizations have been advocating for increased aid to avert famine among civilians. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that only 2,205 aid trucks entered Gaza in December, a number contested by Israel, which claims over 5,000 trucks entered the territory during the same period. Prior to the conflict, Gaza saw approximately 500 aid trucks daily, or 15,000 monthly. Currently, an estimated 91% of Gaza's 2.1 million residents are facing acute food insecurity. In October, the Biden administration had demanded improvements in Gaza's humanitarian situation within 30 days, threatening to cut U.S. military aid if unmet. Despite some progress, the demands were not fully met, and the State Department has since notified Congress of its intent to sell $8 billion in arms to Israel.