On May 9, 2025, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that a U.S.-backed mechanism to distribute aid in Gaza is set to be implemented soon. This announcement comes amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for months as part of the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Huckabee indicated that several partners have committed to participating in the aid agreement but refrained from naming them, stating that further details would be disclosed in the coming days. "There was a good initial response," Huckabee told reporters at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. "There are nonprofit organizations that will be part of the leadership," he added, noting that other organizations and governments would also need to be involved, although not Israel.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the Tikva Forum, representing families of hostages held by Hamas, criticized the aid announcement, insisting that aid delivery should be conditional upon the release of the 59 Hamas prisoners in Gaza. This comes as President Donald Trump prepares for a visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates next week, where he aims to mediate a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Expectations are rising for a new aid plan for Gaza, which has been devastated by 19 months of Israeli military campaigns against Hamas, destroying much of the enclave's infrastructure and displacing large portions of its 2.3 million residents. Huckabee acknowledged the logistical challenges ahead, stating, "It won't be perfect, especially in the early days. It's a logistical challenge to make this work." He emphasized that while Israeli forces would be involved in providing necessary military security, they would not participate in the distribution of food or the entry of supplies into Gaza. When asked if aid delivery depended on the restoration of a ceasefire, Huckabee replied, "Humanitarian aid will depend on nothing other than our ability to get food into Gaza."
Meanwhile, fresh Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on May 8 resulted in the deaths of 16 Palestinians, adding to the over 100 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. Two bombings struck the Al-Karama school in Al-Tuffah, while separate attacks in Deir el-Balah and the Nuseirat refugee camp also claimed lives. In Shujayea, further bombings resulted in additional casualties, and violent strikes on a house in Beit Lahiya killed nine people, including women and children. In Khan Younis, Israeli artillery fire killed a girl and injured four others during an assault on tents sheltering displaced families.
The humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) reported on May 7 that it is being "forced to suspend" its operations due to a lack of supplies. WCK, which has served over 130 million meals and 26 million loaves of bread over the past 18 months, stated that it can no longer cook or bake due to the blockade imposed by Israel since early March. "After serving over 130 million meals in total and 26 million loaves of bread in the last 18 months, World Central Kitchen has run out of supplies to cook meals or bake bread in Gaza," the organization announced.
WCK explained that it has exhausted its remaining food and fuel supplies creatively and determinedly over the past few weeks. They have resorted to alternative fuels like wooden pallets and olive husk pellets, abandoning rice recipes that require more fuel in favor of stews with bread. Currently, WCK is preparing 133,000 meals daily in its two remaining field kitchens and baking 80,000 loaves of bread each day. However, they have reached the limits of what is possible, lamenting that their mobile bakery, the last one operational in Gaza, has run out of flour. Over 80% of community kitchens have also run out of supplies provided by WCK.
Despite the dire situation, WCK emphasized that supplies for distribution in Gaza have been "ready at the border since early March," awaiting the end of the Israeli blockade. "Food and additional equipment are ready to be sent from Jordan and Egypt to the border. Our vital work cannot continue without Israel's permission for the entry of this aid," the organization stated. Wadhah Hubaishi, WCK's representative for Gaza, demanded that the borders be opened, asserting that with full access to their infrastructure and supplies, they could provide 500,000 meals daily to hungry families in Gaza.
In a related development, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned the Israeli government's recent military expansion plans in Gaza, stating that such actions are a step towards consolidating the occupation and ending the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the region. The PLO's Department of Refugee Affairs criticized the Israeli plan to deliver aid under military control, claiming it violates international humanitarian law and the obligations of occupation under the Geneva Convention. The organization highlighted that the aid would only be distributed through military-controlled centers in Rafah, restricting access for Gaza's residents and constituting a blatant violation of humanitarian principles.
As tensions rise, the Brazilian government also expressed its grave concern regarding Israel's military expansion plans in Gaza. In a statement released on May 8, the Itamaraty Palace noted that the escalation could jeopardize negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry's statement emphasized the need for essential supplies to enter the occupied territory, reiterating Israel's obligation to ensure the ongoing provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance. In light of the recent military mobilization by the Israeli army, which called up reservists to increase military operations, the Brazilian government urged Israel to refrain from implementing its expansion plan.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, the international community continues to call for urgent action to address the dire needs of the Palestinian population, while the conflict with Hamas shows no signs of resolution.
