Israel to allow 'basic quantity of food' into Gaza to avoid 'starvation crisis'

Israel has said it will allow a "basic quantity of food" into the besieged enclave of Gaza to avoid a "starvation crisis" following a near three-month blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the decision was "based on the operational need to enable the expansion of the military operation to defeat Hamas". Gaza, where local authorities say more than 53,000 people have died in Israel's 19-month campaign, has been under a complete blockade on humanitarian aid since 2 March.

It comes as global food security experts warn of famine across the territory and after a UN-backed report from last Monday which warned one in five people in Gaza were facing starvation. The statement from the prime minister's office said it would "allow a basic quantity of food to be brought in for the population in order to make certain that no starvation crisis develops in the Gaza Strip".

"Such a crisis would endanger the continuation of Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' to defeat Hamas," it added. "Israel will act to deny Hamas's ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian assistance in order to ensure that the assistance does not reach the Hamas terrorists." It comes after a British surgeon working in Gaza said in a video to Sky News the enclave is now "a slaughterhouse" amid Israeli bombardment.

Israel has just ramped up its offensive in Gaza - where it's been conducting a military campaign in retaliation for 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October 2023 - with Palestinian health officials reporting at least 130 people were killed overnight into Sunday. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed troops had begun "extensive ground operations throughout the northern and southern Gaza Strip".

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 464 people had died in Israeli military strikes in the week to Sunday. Read more:Gaza at mercy of what comes next'At least 93 killed' in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Friday In a statement on Sunday, IDF said its air force struck "over 670 Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip to disrupt enemy preparations and support ground operations" over the past week.

Israel has launched an escalation to increase pressure on Hamas, seize territory, displace Palestinians to the south and take greater control over the distribution of aid..