Bibi acknowledges pressure from allies in resuming aid to Gaza

TEL AVIV: The first few aid trucks have entered Gaza following nearly three months of Israel's complete blockade of food, medicine and other supplies, Israel and the UN said on Monday, as Israel acknowledged pressure from allies.

Five trucks carrying baby food and other desperately needed aid entered the territory of over 2 million Palestinians via the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to the Israeli defence body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, COGAT.

The UN called it a "welcome development" but said far more aid is needed. Food security experts last week warned of famine in Gaza. During the latest ceasefire that Israel ended in March, some 600 aid trucks entered Gaza each day.

Israeli PM Netanyahu said his decision to resume limited, "basic" aid to Gaza came after allies said they couldn't support Israel's renewed military offensive if there are "images of hunger" coming from the territory. The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, said the first few trucks were a "drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed." He said four more UN trucks were cleared to enter Gaza.

Israel over the weekend launched a new wave of air and ground operations across Gaza, and the army ordered the evacuation of its second-largest city, Khan Younis, where Israel carried out a massive operation earlier.

Netanyahu said Monday Israel plans on "taking control of all of Gaza," as well as establishing a new system to distribute aid that circumvents Hamas. He has said Israel also will encourage what he describes as the voluntary emigration of much of Gaza's population to other countries. He said Israel's "greatest friends in the world" had told him, "We cannot accept images of hunger, mass hunger." Netanyahu said the situation was approaching a "red line" and a "dangerous point," but it was not clear if he was referring to the crisis in Gaza or the potential loss of support from allies. The statement appeared aimed at pacifying anger in his nationalist base at the decision to resume aid.