Israeli Strikes Kill 85 as Gaza Aid Faces Delays

Israeli airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing at least 85 Palestinians, according to local health officials, even as Israel opened its borders slightly to allow more humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The United Nations, however, warned that aid is still not reaching those in urgent need.

The Israeli military's renewed offensive has drawn growing international condemnation. Despite allowing additional aid trucks to enter, the United Nations said the deliveries have yet to reach Gaza’s civilian population due to logistical obstacles and Israeli military restrictions.

According to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, aid convoys have been forced to reload supplies under Israeli military orders, delaying distribution and exhausting operational time. He described the aid clearance process as “long, complex, complicated and dangerous.”

Israel’s defense agency COGAT reported that five trucks entered Gaza on Monday and 93 on Tuesday. However, the U.N. verified only a fraction of that number. The shipments included flour, baby food, and medical supplies, with the agency prioritizing infant formula and food for communal kitchens.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified under an Israeli blockade in place for nearly three months. The United Nations has warned that Gaza’s 2 million residents are facing imminent famine. While Israel has agreed to allow a “minimal” amount of aid under international pressure, officials and humanitarian organizations say far more is needed.

International Response and Sanctions

The British government announced Tuesday it is suspending free trade negotiations with Israel and imposing new sanctions targeting Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. This followed coordinated criticism from the U.K., France, and Canada over Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza and its military activities in the West Bank.

“We’re horrified by the escalation from Israel,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament. The U.K.’s sanctions include measures against settler leader Daniella Weiss and organizations linked to new settlement initiatives. In response, Weiss said hundreds of Israeli families are prepared to move into Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein dismissed the sanctions as “unjustified and regrettable,” adding that no active trade talks with the U.K. were underway.

Mounting Death Toll and Internal Dissent

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that over 300 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military launched its latest campaign over the weekend, aimed at rescuing hostages and dismantling Hamas. Tuesday’s strikes alone killed dozens in various areas, including a family home and a school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza, where 22 people — more than half of them women and children — reportedly died.

In Deir al-Balah, 13 people were killed; another 15 died in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Two airstrikes in Khan Younis left 10 dead. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas infrastructure and accused the group of embedding itself in densely populated civilian areas.

Domestically, criticism of the war effort is growing. Yair Golan, a retired general and leader of the opposition Democrats party, delivered unusually sharp remarks, accusing the government of “fighting civilians” and saying Israel risks becoming “an outcast among nations.”

“A sane country doesn’t kill babies as a hobby or set goals of expelling a population,” Golan told Reshet Bet radio.

Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced Golan’s comments as “wild incitement” and likened them to antisemitic rhetoric.

Ceasefire Talks Falter

Netanyahu announced Tuesday that he is recalling Israel’s high-level negotiating team from Qatar after a week of ceasefire talks ended without agreement. A smaller team will remain in Doha, but Qatari officials confirmed that a “fundamental gap” remains between the parties.

Hamas, which still holds 58 hostages — roughly a third believed to be alive — accused Netanyahu of stalling and misrepresenting the negotiations. Talks had stalled since Saturday.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251. Israel’s response has killed over 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.