U.S. officials have visited a disputed Gaza aid distribution site as Israel’s Security Cabinet announced plans for its military to eventually control all of Gaza City. The move comes almost two years into the war, which Gaza’s Health Ministry says has claimed the lives of at least 61,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the goal is to ensure aid is distributed to civilians outside of combat zones, though it did not provide details.
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The announcement stopped short of calling the planned takeover an occupation, but United Nations figures indicate that nearly 90% of Gaza is already under military control or inaccessible to Palestinians. Gaza City, parts of central Gaza, and a small coastal strip are the only areas not fully occupied by Israeli ground forces. Israeli troops already operate in eastern Gaza City, supported by near-constant airstrikes. How the military will advance into densely populated areas remains unclear, especially with many civilians sheltering in hospitals, churches, and makeshift camps.
The situation in Gaza City is dire. Much of the city has been reduced to rubble by sustained Israeli airstrikes and raids, yet it still houses several of Gaza’s remaining partially functioning hospitals, a church sheltering Christian residents, and sprawling tent encampments for tens of thousands of displaced people. U.N.-backed hunger experts warn of an unfolding famine, raising urgent concerns about where civilians could go if fighting intensifies.
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Israel’s plan to expand its control has drawn alarm from humanitarian agencies, which say aid access is already dangerously limited. The new aid distribution arrangement announced by Netanyahu’s office lacks clear implementation details, leaving questions about how supplies will reach civilians trapped near combat zones.
Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages held by militants in Gaza continue to call for a ceasefire. They fear that intensified military action could result in the deaths of their loved ones. The Israeli government faces mounting pressure to balance military objectives with the urgent need for humanitarian relief and the safe return of hostages. The visit by U.S. officials underscores Washington’s interest in ensuring aid delivery, but it remains uncertain whether it will influence Israel’s next steps in Gaza City.
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