Israel Allows Aid Into Gaza as Operation Gideon’s Chariots Begins

Latest Developments

Ensuring the ‘Aid Does Not Reach Hamas Terrorists’: Israel will “introduce a basic amount of food” into Gaza following an 11-week pause on food into the territory, announced the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 18. Netanyahu’s office said that “Israel will work to deny Hamas the ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian aid to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas terrorists.” The aid will be distributed via existing channels until the end of May, when the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will take over the process with a new mechanism for distributing supplies within the territory. The new system aims to prevent Hamas from seizing aid by establishing secure, centralized distribution hubs and utilizing security contractors.
Israel Launches Large Ground Operation in Gaza: The IDF said it “struck over 160 terror targets in Gaza” on May 18 and eliminated dozens of Hamas fighters as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots. Five divisions are now operating within Gaza with the goal of defeating Hamas, according to IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin. Defrin stated that the IDF intends to move Gazans to safe zones to increase Israeli control over Gaza. In the week prior to the operation, Israel struck more than 670 Hamas targets in Gaza.
Acting Hamas Military Leader Mohammed Sinwar Likely Dead: The Saudi channel Al-Hadath reported that the body of acting Hamas military leader Mohammed Sinwar was found in a tunnel near the European Hospital in the Khan Younis area following an Israeli strike on May 13. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “all indications” pointed to the demise of Mohammed Sinwar, who took over for his brother Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7, 2023, atrocities, who was killed by Israel in October 2024.

FDD Expert Response

“Hamas’s exploitation of humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip has consistently posed a strategic dilemma for Israel. Hamas does so knowing that Israel will eventually be compelled to allow the resumption of aid. Hamas cynically leverages humanitarian channels for its survival at the expense of Palestinian civilians. While the introduction of a new mechanism to ensure aid reaches those in need is a welcome step, Hamas will almost certainly seek ways to manipulate or undermine it for its benefit.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

“The reported elimination of Muhammad Sinwar in a tunnel near a hospital once again confirms Hamas’s abuse of humanitarian protections for hospitals, schools, and other sensitive sites. Rather than criticize Israel for striking a hospital, the international community should condemn Hamas for turning protected sites into legitimate targets.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

“The decision to resume humanitarian aid to Gaza and the introduction of a new humanitarian initiative are important developments after two-and-a-half months in which aid had been cut off from Gaza. They are designed to stave off a potential hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip and potentially reduce pressure on Israel to end its new offensive in Gaza, which is aimed at defeating Hamas.” — Seth J. Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow