End Gaza's humanitarian crisis, renew efforts for a ceasefire

The wrenching images of starving children and infants in Gaza have shocked the world's conscience, forcing the Israeli government to temporarily allow more food distribution for the two million displaced and suffering Palestinians with neither homes nor access to medical care.  

“Some of those kids are — that’s real starvation stuff,” said President Donald Trump on Monday in a rare criticism of Israel.

Not enough food has been supplied, nor has the distribution method been safe, with the United Nations estimating 1,000 Gazans being killed as they desperately rushed the food trucks only to be shot by ill-trained Israeli security forces. As a result of this crisis, the Gaza Health Ministry estimates that 137 people, including 87 children, have died from starvation. 

On Sunday, drones parachuting pallets of food into Gaza and, more importantly, the opening of more routes for trucks to bring supplies were underway. Israel calls this a week of "tactical pauses" but it is an acknowledgment that its effort to replace established international aid programs with a private venture, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is a failure. Israel said the change was needed because the remaining Hamas operatives in Gaza and some gangs were stealing the provisions for profit.

Despite the short reprieve by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it is unclear how quickly and for how long the crisis will be eased. His governing coalition relies on support from the far right, which opposes any softening of the nation's policy to crush Hamas despite the civilian cost.

Chef José Andrés, who runs World Central Kitchen, the global group that prepares hot meals in crisis areas, says it's unclear whether this reprieve will make a difference, posting on Instagram," Our teams on the ground are committed and resilient, but our day-to-day ability to sustain cooking operations remains uncertain."

Netanyahu rejects any blame for the food crisis, yet he cannot escape the haunting images that are catalyzing the condemnation of his strategy to restrict aid in order to crush Hamas into a surrender for its Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 civilians. 

No conflict in the Middle East has ended without the involvement of the United States. Trump wisely held Netanyahu accountable for the crisis. “I want him to make sure they get the food,” Trump said. “I want to make sure they get the food.” The United States alone has sent $60 million in humanitarian aid. 

Time and time again, photographs shock us into realizing the human cost of war, shaping our understanding of the horror. The 21-month conflict between Israel and Hamas can now be defined as one in which people do unspeakable things to one another. Trump must  renew efforts for a ceasefire to end the humanitarian crisis and start the reconstruction of a Hamas-free Gaza that can lead to a more secure Israel.