Israel has delayed aid deliveries and kept Gaza’s border closed, intensifying concerns over the fragile ceasefire and dimming hopes for US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
According to Israeli officials, the decision to restrict humanitarian assistance and postpone reopening the border with Egypt came after Hamas failed to promptly return the bodies of dead hostages. The group cited difficulty in locating them amid Gaza’s devastation.
Meanwhile, Hamas has reasserted control over much of Gaza following Israel’s partial troop withdrawal. In a shocking display, Hamas fighters executed seven men in a public square in Gaza City on Monday, accusing them of collaboration with Israel. The incident, captured in viral footage, underscored the militant group’s determination to tighten its grip on the enclave.
Despite Trump’s declaration of a “historic dawn of a new Middle East,” the implementation of his ceasefire plan has stalled. While Hamas has released the last 20 living Israeli hostages, only four of the 27 dead bodies have been returned, delaying further aid access and border reopening.
Israeli drone strikes and clashes between Hamas factions have further undermined the truce. At least five Palestinians were killed near Gaza City, and one more near Khan Younis, as both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.
On the diplomatic front, a summit in Egypt co-hosted by Trump yielded little progress toward establishing an international force or transitional administration for Gaza.
As Hamas deploys workers to clear rubble and restore key routes, the delay in aid—coupled with famine conditions and mounting humanitarian needs—threatens to plunge Gaza deeper into crisis. UNICEF has warned that while limited supplies are trickling in, a large-scale aid influx is urgently needed to avert further suffering.
