Israel has announced it will permit a “basic amount” of food aid into Gaza, ending a strict 10-week blockade that has pushed the territory to the brink of famine.

The decision, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday, comes as the Israeli military intensifies its ground operations across the Gaza Strip in its latest offensive, named “Operation Gideon’s Chariot.”

The prime minister’s office said the move was made following a recommendation by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prevent a “starvation crisis” that could undermine military objectives.

The statement stressed that aid would be limited and tightly controlled to prevent Hamas from accessing the supplies.

“Israel will allow a basic quantity of food to be brought in for the population, to make certain no starvation crisis develops.

“Israel will also act to deny Hamas’s ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian assistance.” The statement read.

The blockade, which had cut off all food, fuel, and medical supplies since early March, has led to catastrophic conditions in Gaza.

Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of looming famine among the population of 2.1 million. Graphic images and reports of severely malnourished children have intensified international pressure on Israel to ease restrictions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was among the latest to call for Israel to allow the “immediate, massive and unhampered” delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The announcement followed a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. Dozens of areas across Gaza, including Khan Younis, Beit Lahia, and the Jabalia refugee camp, were hit overnight.

The Hamas-run health ministry reported at least 67 deaths and over 360 injuries in the past 24 hours.

The civil defence agency in Gaza said strikes also targeted the al-Mawasi camp—previously designated a “safe zone”—killing at least 22 people and injuring over 100.

Israel maintains its military operations aim to dismantle Hamas and rescue remaining hostages.

“We will strike any area used for rocket launches,” the army said in a statement urging civilians to evacuate to al-Mawasi.

Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system has been further devastated. The health ministry confirmed three public hospitals in North Gaza are now “out of service” due to ongoing bombardment.

One of the worst affected is the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, where medical staff told the reporters that IDF tanks surrounded the facility and opened fire. The hospital had 55 people inside, including doctors, nurses, and patients unable to flee.

Although the IDF later withdrew, the facility remains incapacitated. Gaza health officials and medics deny the presence of any Hamas activity in the hospital, contradicting Israeli claims of targeting terrorist infrastructure.

Despite parallel ceasefire talks in Doha, progress remains stalled. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s office said negotiators are “exhausting every possibility” for a deal.

The proposed framework reportedly includes the release of all hostages, the exile of Hamas leaders, and full disarmament of the Gaza Strip.

A senior Hamas official told the newsmen that no breakthrough had been achieved, citing Israel’s refusal to agree to a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas has proposed releasing all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and substantial humanitarian aid—terms the Israeli side has yet to accept.

“Israel wants to retrieve its hostages in one or two batches in return for a temporary truce,” the Hamas official said. “We reject any partial or temporary arrangements.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing families of Israeli captives, warned that the renewed offensive endangers those still held in Gaza.

“Testimonies from released hostages describe significantly worsened treatment following military strikes,” the group said, citing cases of abuse, restraint, and starvation.

The war began with Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel, which left approximately 1,200 dead and over 250 hostages taken.

Israel’s response has led to widespread devastation in Gaza, with over 53,000 Palestinians killed, according to local health authorities.

Currently, an estimated 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with 23 believed to still be alive.

The United States has expressed growing concern over the humanitarian conditions. Senator Marco Rubio told the Newsmen the situation was “deeply troubling” and urged both sides to reach a sustainable ceasefire.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 trafficked Nigerians, including 12 girls and a five-year-old boy who were rescued from human trafficking rings in Ghana and Mali, according to a statement released on Sunday.

The rescue operation saw 11 of the victims returned from Ghana, while two women were repatriated from Mali, as revealed in a press release signed by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

The 11 girls rescued from Ghana, aged between 16 and 30, are from Cross River (4), Benue (4), Imo (1), and Oyo (1) states. The two women rescued from Mali, aged 27 and 35, are from Adamawa State.

Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairperson Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of the Commission’s Lagos Liaison Office, disclosed that the victims had been lured with false promises of employment, only to be forced into prostitution in Ghana.

He said the traffickers exploited the victims’ vulnerability under the guise of better opportunities abroad.

The two women rescued from Mali shared harrowing accounts of sexual abuse, physical assault, and emotional trauma with NiDCOM officials, including Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to working with the victims’ respective state governments to ensure rehabilitation, reintegration, and psychological support.

She also called for stringent legal action against traffickers and urged greater efforts to publicly expose trafficking networks operating across West Africa.

The victims have since been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for profiling, counseling, and further support.

The Nigerian Army has dismissed Lance Corporal Samuel Emmanuel after investigations revealed that he was involved in an armed robbery case in Lagos State.

Emmanuel was dismissed by the Nigerian Army after he was Court-Martialled at the 16 Brigade Garrison following his arrest for armed robbery in the State.

The dismissed soldier has been handed over to the Lagos State Police Command for prosecution in accordance with the Nigerian constitution.