Israel’s cutoff of humanitarian aid to Gaza, declaring that it will only be allowed to start flowing again once Hamas agrees to release more hostages, has sent prices soaring and humanitarian groups into overdrive trying to distribute dwindling stocks to the most vulnerable.

After more than 16 months of war — sparked by the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel, when thousands of terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages — Gaza’s population is entirely dependent on trucked-in food and other aid.

Most are displaced from their homes and many need shelter. Fuel is needed to keep hospitals, water pumps, bakeries and telecommunications, as well as trucks delivering aid, operating.

Israel says the siege aims at pressuring Hamas to accept its spinoff ceasefire proposal, which — unlike the latter stages of the hostage-ceasefire deal agreed to in January — would see the release of further hostages prior to any talks on a permanent end to the war.

That deal’s now-expired first phase saw Hamas release 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages, living and dead, as Israel released almost 2,000 Palestinian security prisoners and detainees, with fighting stopped in the Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he is prepared to raise the pressure and would not rule out cutting off all electricity to Gaza if Hamas doesn’t budge.

Arab states have

© The Times of Israel