Israel has long restricted aid to Gaza on the argument that Hamas steals it to use as a weapon of control over the population. On Saturday, the Israeli military announced new airdrops of aid.

Hamas issued a scathing statement in which it rejected U.S. criticism of its handling of negotiations aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza.

In May, Trump secured the release of Edan Alexander, the last US Israeli citizen held hostage after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and started the latest war. Alexander, who grew up in Tenafly, NJ, had been serving in the Israeli military when he was captured.

Both Israel and Hamas are facing pressure at home and abroad to reach a deal following almost two years of war, with the humanitarian situation inside Gaza deteriorating.

President Donald Trump says Hamas is reluctant to release the remaining hostages amid Israel's increase in humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza on Sunday.

Hamas has reportedly taken steps to fend off possible Israeli military plans aimed at rescuing the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher has demanded that Israel provide evidence for its accusations that staff with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs were affiliated with Palestinian militants Hamas, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Friday.

In our news wrap Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says he's considering "alternative options" to ceasefire talks with Hamas, European diplomats attempted to restart negotiations over limiting Iran's nuclear program and Ghislaine Maxwell wrapped up questioning as the Justice Department pushes back on criticism it's concealing aspects of Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with President Trump.

In the interview with Maariv, Ofer criticized Israel's approach since Operation Gideon’s Chariots, arguing that Hamas “gets everything it wants. ” More than four months have passed since the end of the last ceasefire in Gaza,

JERUSALEM/GAZA, July 27 (Reuters) - Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped aid to the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world.