1 in 5 Gazans face starvation. Can the law force Israel to act?

As Israel continues to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing scores of people a day, the two-month ceasefire that brought a halt to the violence earlier this year feels like a distant memory.

- DONALD ROTHWELL

Israel's overall military and political objective in Gaza hasn't changed after 19 months of war: it is still seeking the absolute defeat of Hamas and return of the remaining Israeli hostages.

But it is unclear how Hamas will ever be militarily defeated unless there is a complete and unconditional surrender and the laying down of all arms. This appears unlikely, despite the success of Israel's so-called "decapitation strategy" targeting the Hamas leadership.

And Hamas continues to hold an estimated 57 Israeli hostages in Gaza, of which up to 24 are believed to still be alive. The group is insisting on guarantees that Israel will end the war before releasing any more hostages.

AN ONGOING BLOCKADE FOR 18 YEARS

Israel announced Sunday it will allow a "basic" amount of food to enter Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade of the strip. It was not clear when or how the aid would resume amid "extensive" new ground operations the military said Sunday it had also just begun.

Israel first imposed a land, sea, and air blockade of Gaza in 2007 after Hamas came to power. These restrictions have severely limited the movement of people and vehicles across the border, as well as the amount of food, medicine and other goods that have been permitted to go into and out of Gaza.

These controls increased significantly after Hamas' attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They've been maintained at heightened levels ever since.

The January ceasefire temporarily increased the flow of food, medical aid and other support into Gaza. However, this came to an end in early March when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut off aid again to pressure Hamas to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages. Hostilities resumed soon after.