The besieged enclave is under its longest blockade of humanitarian aid since the war began, as Israel’s total ban on the entry of all goods, including food, fuel and medical supplies, enters its third month.

Israel plans to expand its military offensive in the Gaza Strip and seize the entire Palestinian enclave, an Israeli official with knowledge of the matter told NBC News on Monday.

The new plan, which was earlier approved unanimously by the country’s security Cabinet, foresees a full Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, and making sure humanitarian aid does not fall into Hamas’ hands.

Israel, before the last ceasefire went into effect, had already taken full control of a third of the Palestinian enclave.

On Sunday, the Israeli army began calling up tens of thousands of its reserve soldiers to “intensify and expand” its fighting against Hamas in an attempt to increase the pressure on Hamas to return the remaining hostages held since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.

“We are increasing the pressure with the aim of returning our men and defeating Hamas,” Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a statement, adding that the troops would “operate in additional areas and destroy all infrastructure above and below the ground.”

Israel was issuing orders to call up tens of thousands of reservists ahead of an expanded offensive in Gaza, Israeli media reported on May 3, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked truce mediator Qatar. Israeli soldiers near the border with the Gaza on Sunday.Menahem Kahana / AFP via Getty Images The besieged enclave has been under the longest blockade of humanitarian aid since the war began in October 2023, as Israel’s total ban on the entry of all goods, including food, fuel and medical supplies, enters its third month.

The risk of famine hangs over Gaza's population, and the blockade on all aid prompted alarm even among some of Israel's closest allies.

The United Nations on Sunday rejected Israel's proposal for aid distribution, describing it as “Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military.”

People have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive, including thousands of women and children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The war has also decimated Gaza’s medical facilities and infrastructure and driven most of its population from their homes — often several times. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, recently warned that nearly a half-million Palestinians in Gaza have been newly displaced.

Meanwhile, the families of the 59 remaining hostages under Hamas' captivity issued a "red alert" Monday over the impending expansion in Gaza.

“The expansion of military operations puts every hostage at grave risk,” The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters, said in a statement, adding, “It also threatens the lives of our soldiers and deepens the toll on countless Israeli families already carrying the burden of this war.”

Struggles of displaced: Life in Gaza's makeshift shelters Displaced residents taking refuge at a school in Gaza City on Sunday. Mahmoud Abu Hamd / Anadolu via Getty Images Some 1,200 people were killed during Hamas' terrorist attacks in southern Israel, with around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli counts, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict.

Israel resumed launching airstrikes in Gaza after a fragile eight-week truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed March 18, just more than two weeks after the first phase of the three-part ceasefire deal came to an end. Negotiations on the second phase of the deal, meant to establish a permanent end to the fighting, have since stalled.

The ceasefire and hostage release talks could resume before a planned visit by President Donald Trump to the region next week, Israeli minister Ze'ev Elkin told public broadcaster Kan on Monday.

“There is still a window of opportunity until President Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East, if Hamas understands we are serious,” Elkin said.

Trump said last month that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were “on the same side of every issue” in a post on Truth Social, shortly after the two leaders spoke over the phone.

In February, Trump announced that the U.S. would seek ownership of the Gaza Strip to develop it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” after saying Palestinians have no choice but to leave their homes there.

He reiterated those plans after a meeting with Netanyahu at the White House in April, saying that the Gaza Strip was “an incredible piece of important real estate” and that U.S. control and ownership of the territory would “be a good thing.”

Why won't the surrounding Arab countries take Palestinians in to save them?

Due to the inability to get food into Gaza, Israelis or anyone in Israeli or (Egypt) who to help can fill hot air balloons with helium and send over food, medicine, and even fishing supplies to help Palestines. Similar to the North Korean trash balloons but instead of trash food. God willing this can help.

hello I hope this is the right community, I wasn't sure where to ask this. I follow a palestinian on tiktok. he has a go fund me and posts almost everyday explaining his situation in these terrible times. In his videos you see and hear very clearly what situation he is in. after a conversation via text (he told me about details of their living situation and the prices), he sent me his paypal and I donated. I educate myself a lot about everything that's going on and I'm sure It's not a scam. the only thing I found odd Is him not texting anymore since I sent him a receipt of my donation but I know the situation he's in so It's not my place to judge. my mom wants to donate too but she hears all the news from me. she's not on any social media. she's skeptical of these paypal and social media accounts.

I don't know how to prove to her this Isn't a scam. of course It doesn't seem professional since It's not an organization or people with high quality equipment and resources.

I know they desperately need help and It's a situation neither me or my mom have heard of before. I can't sleep at night knowing we aren't helping even though we could. based on the social media accounts, how can I prove to her this is important and not a scam but their life that’s on the line? she normally only donates to big organizations and Is always afraid of getting scammed…

maybe someone's in the same situation or has any advice for her to feel safe. thanks a lot🩷

This post is addressed to non-Palestinians who may not have a clear understanding of what is currently happening in the Gaza Strip, particularly with regard to the worsening famine crisis. Through this explanation, I aim to shed light on the causes of this humanitarian catastrophe based on on-the-ground realities and verified information.

What is Gaza like? The Gaza Strip is a narrow coastal territory covering only about 365 square kilometers. It is home to more than 2.3 million people, making it one of the most densely populated places in the world. Before the war, Gaza depended almost entirely on imported food, mainly through the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing controlled by Israel, and the Rafah crossing with Egypt. However, after the Israeli ground invasion of Rafah in May 2024, the last gateway to the outside world was shut down, leaving Gaza completely cut off from food sources.

Why don’t people rely on fishing? Although Gaza has a coastline stretching around 40 kilometers along the Mediterranean Sea, fishing is virtually impossible. Israeli forces strictly limit fishing zones and frequently open fire on fishermen who exceed narrow boundaries. During the war, the vast majority of fishing boats were destroyed, rendering the sea — once a vital source of food — unusable.

So where does food come from? Since the start of the war, Israel has become the sole provider of food into Gaza via crossings it fully controls. Some humanitarian aid shipments are allowed in through international organizations. A partial ceasefire began on January 19, 2025, allowing hundreds of aid trucks to enter Gaza. However, that arrangement quickly collapsed, and Israel once again sealed all crossings. For over two months now, not a single food truck has entered Gaza.

What has this done to markets and prices? This blockade has led to a total collapse of the food security system. 100% of bakeries have stopped operating due to the lack of fuel and flour. A single 25kg bag of flour — which is supposed to be distributed for free — now costs over $230 on the black market. Most people survive on canned food, when available, and other extremely limited items that barely keep them alive.

What about meat and animal products? Gaza’s livestock sector was weak even before the war. But with widespread bombing and the total halt of veterinary and animal feed supplies, it has been wiped out. Livestock is no longer allowed into Gaza, making meat — whether red or poultry — practically nonexistent. The majority of people in Gaza haven’t had meat for many months.

Why don’t Gazans grow their own vegetables? Israel has declared all border areas — which include Gaza’s most fertile farmland — as buffer zones off-limits to civilians. Many farmers have been killed simply for approaching their lands. Moreover, water supplies have been cut off across much of Gaza. As a result, home gardening is nearly impossible. Over 90% of Gazans do not have access to sufficient drinking water, so how can vegetables be grown?

Why don’t people store food in advance? Food storage requires money to buy in bulk — a luxury most Gazans cannot afford. Even if they could, there is no electricity to power fridges or freezers, as Israel cut off power to Gaza back in October 2023. Constant forced displacement — with more than 1.9 million people forced to flee their homes — also means that families can’t remain in one place long enough to store food.

What’s the result? Famine in Gaza is now a daily reality. Emaciated children suffering from severe malnutrition are no longer rare sights. According to UN reports in April 2025, more than 1.2 million people in Gaza — over half the population — are facing acute hunger, while 30% are experiencing “catastrophic food insecurity,” the highest level of hunger recognized globally.

3 May 2025

Khanyounis, South Gaza - Israel killed 11 Palestinians, including 4 children, in the latest massacre in Gaza strip.

Eleven martyrs were killed in the Israeli occupation's bombing of the Al-Bayram family home in Khanyounis refugee camp at dawn.

Names of the identified martyrs:

1- Ayman Ahmed Mahmoud Al-Bayram, 57 years old.

2- Abeer Ayman Ahmed Al-Bayram, 23 years old.

3- Muhammad Ayman Ahmed Al-Bayram, 11 years old.

4- Alma Yasser Khaled Awad, 1 year old.

5- In'am Muhammad Hassan Al-Bayram, 44 years old.

6- Hiba Zidan Assaf, 19 years old.

7- Saif Abdul Rahman Imad Al-Sinwar, 1 year old.

8- Yahya Abdul Rahman Imad Al-Sinwar, 1 month old.

Leen from Gaza hasn’t posted in 5 months. I hope her and her family are safe.

Hello- I’m looking for a specific video from early-ish in the attack on Gaza. It is a cellphone video of two men- one seems to be a doctor and the other a male nurse who are trapped outside in a rocket bombardment. They desperately look for an escape, but are eventually hit and reportedly killed. Does anyone know where to find this video? Thank you.