Global Pressure Mounts as Israel’s Gaza Offensive Sparks Outrage & Famine Fears

International condemnation is growing rapidly against Israel as it pushes forward with a renewed military offensive in Gaza that has killed hundreds in just days and triggered dire warnings of famine.

Leaders of the UK, France, and Canada issued a stark ultimatum on Monday: cease military actions and lift the aid blockade or face “concrete actions” like targeted sanctions. This move comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with over 53,000 people killed since the war began on October 7, 2023, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials.

Israel’s latest military campaign, dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots, was launched after a breakdown in ceasefire and hostage negotiations during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East tour. The offensive began with a surge of airstrikes followed by a ground assault, targeting areas across northern and southern Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces claim to have hit over 670 Hamas sites, but the strikes have also devastated civilian infrastructure, including the Nasser Medical Complex, and killed at least 136 people in a single day.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel’s aim to “take control of the entire Gaza Strip,” prompting further outrage from international allies. Amid warnings from even staunch U.S. supporters, Netanyahu reluctantly allowed five aid trucks into Gaza, an effort UN aid chief Tom Fletcher dismissed as “a drop in the ocean.”

Currently, 71% of Gaza is either under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders, displacing over 436,000 people. Aid organizations warn that nearly half a million Gazans are facing starvation, with food, medicine, and essential supplies critically low due to Israel’s 11-week-long blockade.

Despite allowing limited aid, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure at home from right-wing supporters who oppose any aid flow. He admitted Monday that images of starving civilians could force even Israel’s closest allies to withdraw support. “We simply won’t receive international backing if famine emerges,” he said.

Meanwhile, a controversial aid mechanism backed by the U.S. and Israel called as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is under fire. Critics say the plan could “militarize aid” and promote forced displacement. The UN’s top children’s advocate slammed it as “unworkable,” insisting Israel, as the occupying power, is legally responsible for ensuring humanitarian access.

Negotiations have resumed in Doha, but progress remains murky. Hamas officials have issued conflicting statements on potential hostage releases and ceasefire terms. Israel has expressed willingness to end the war if Hamas surrenders, an outcome analysts deem unlikely without major concessions.