UAE says Gaza aid deal reached, NGOs warn of 'pointless gesture'

Israeli forces continued heavy bombardment of Gaza on Wednesday, killing 38 people since dawn, despite mounting international criticism of the expanding assault. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it had reached a deal with Israel to deliver humanitarian aid.

Medical sources reported that the death toll included several children, and that multiple homes in the northern part of the Strip were targeted.

Around 24 of the Palestinians killed were in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, which witnessed the heaviest bombardment of the day.

The killings and strikes came amid increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli politicians, including former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin, who said in a Channel 14 interview: “Every child, every baby in Gaza is an enemy.” He added, “We need to occupy Gaza and settle it, and not a single Gazan child will be left there. There is no other victory.”

In Gaza, the partial opening of land crossings to allow limited aid has had little impact. Reports say it has done nothing to alleviate starvation, nor has it reached the majority of the population.

Markets remain empty, and basic goods such as flour, sugar, and oil have been unavailable since Israel’s full blockade began on 2 March. Palestinians and rights groups say Israel has only allowed five trucks of aid into Gaza this week, far short of the 600 trucks per day required. They also report that even this limited aid is heavily restricted.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s state news agency WAM reported that Emirati and Israeli foreign ministers reached an agreement in a phone call to facilitate aid deliveries to Gaza. The plan will initially focus on food aid for around 15,000 civilians and will later expand to include bakery supplies and infant care essentials.

The UN has said that Israeli restrictions continue to obstruct aid distribution, despite the recent entry of some trucks into the enclave.

The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza is drawing growing global condemnation. The UK announced it had summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely for formal questioning after suspending its free trade agreement with Tel Aviv.

Sweden also confirmed it would join European Union diplomatic efforts to push for sanctions against Israeli government ministers.

Stalled negotiations and political fallout

Criticism of Israel's military campaign has also intensified following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to recall senior members of the Israeli negotiating team from Doha. Netanyahu announced the withdrawal on Tuesday evening, although working-level representatives would remain in Qatar.

The decision has angered families of Israeli captives, who accused the government of having "no real plan to return the last hostage".

In response, Hamas criticised Netanyahu’s move, saying he was "falsely pretending to take part in the negotiation process", and that his delegation had stayed in Doha without engaging in meaningful talks.

Hamas added that the Israeli team sent to Doha "lacks any authority to reach a deal", adding that "no real negotiations have been conducted since last Saturday [17 May]."

The group said they hold the Israeli government fully responsible for "undermining efforts to reach a deal".

Despite Israel recalling its delegation, Hamas said it remains "positive and responsible" toward any serious initiative aimed at ending the war in Gaza.