RT Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@Globalsumudf)Israeli navy, your blockade is unlawful. You have been deliberately starving the people of Gaza before the eyes of the world. Claiming that you will deliver humanitarian aid for Gaza is a propaganda ploy, and we reject it. Regardless, your blockade is unlawful. This is not just about delivering aid. You have no legal authority to control Gaza and therefore anything going in and out of Gaza is not up to you, it is up to the people of Gaza.” — Huwaida Arraf U ...

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - Airdrops of aid, while providing some relief, are not the most effective and can be dangerous, resulting in casualties [1][2] - A 14-year-old boy was killed by an aid package dropped from a plane [2] - Israel's initial blockade of Gaza for over two months led to a deadly hunger crisis [3] - Humanitarian groups state that the current aid levels are insufficient and call for a significant increase in relief [5] - The preferred method for delivering aid is through designated road crossings and a ceasefire [5] Access and Reporting - For the past 22 months, Israel has restricted independent access to Gaza for foreign journalists [3] - Restrictions were placed on filming from the aid plane, limiting the view of Gaza [4] Policy Changes - Following international criticism, Israel has started allowing more aid and goods into Gaza [4]

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - The World Health Organization warns of a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a large proportion of the population facing starvation [1] - Aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, report a surge in malnutrition cases, with a four-fold increase in patients enrolled in malnutrition programs in the last two months [2][4] - A primary healthcare center is enrolling 25 new malnourished patients every day, indicating a catastrophic situation [5] - Healthcare workers in Gaza are experiencing hunger, with some going without food for 24-48 hours, impacting their ability to support the healthcare system [5][6] Aid and Access Obstacles - Aid organizations report that the blockade and restrictions on aid distribution are contributing to the starvation [1][2] - There are reports of people being shot and killed while trying to access aid, hindering efforts to provide food to those in need [9][11] - The Gaza strip is exceptionally small, and food is available a few kilometers away, indicating that the deprivation of food is a deliberate choice [10] Allegations of Strategy - Some observers suggest that the restrictions on aid and the targeting of people seeking assistance may be a deliberate strategy [8][9] - Doctors Without Borders describes the situation as part of a "genocidal campaign" by Israeli authorities on the people of Gaza [12] - The cost of the very little food that is left in the markets is so excessively expensive that even people with a salary cannot feed themselves and their family every single day [14]

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - The report highlights dire warnings of starvation in Gaza due to the Israeli government's blockade, leading to a new aid delivery method involving the Trump administration and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) [1] - The UN reports over 600 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, with the majority of deaths occurring at GHF-run sites [4][5] - Investigative reports cite whistleblowers alleging that both Israeli soldiers and private American GHF contractors have fired live ammunition into crowds of hungry Palestinians [5] Aid Distribution Controversy - The GHF, a third-party organization with unclear funding, hires private military contractors, raising concerns about its operations [2] - The GHF's aid distribution method, using only four sites, is contrasted with UNRWA's 400 distribution sites, which have served 15 million patients without causing harm [10][11] - The GHF denies reports of its contractors firing on civilians, attributing gunfire to the IDF, while the Israeli government dismisses reports of IDF soldiers firing into crowds as "blood lies" [6][7] Alternative Aid Delivery - UNRWA has 108 trucks waiting outside the borders, potentially delivering aid to 500-600 truck capacity, but Israelis have yet to allow those [9] - UNRWA staff process aid and text families to pick up food parcels from 400 distribution sites, without carrying guns or harming Palestinians [9][10] - The Gaza Soup Kitchen serves soup and water to approximately 30,000 Palestinians daily without causing harm, emphasizing the importance of community trust [18] Political and Economic Implications - More than 55% of GHF's budget is spent on armored vehicles, contrasting with UNRWA and other NGOs that lack such resources [13][14] - The report suggests that using food as a weapon is a negotiation tactic to create pressure in Gaza, disrupting lives and influencing negotiations [16][17] - The report mentions Hamas saying Israel negotiate a truce proposal, and if there were a truce proposal presumably that aid would flow in and the GHF experiment would end [20]

Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices initially surged, with WTI jumping 14%, but retreated as no actual supply disruptions occurred [2] - Market focus shifts to Iran's response, which is expected to dictate oil's next move [2] - Iran exports approximately 15 million barrels of oil per day, representing about 15% of global supply [3] - A wider conflict could disrupt oil supply in Saudi Arabia or Iraq [3] - Potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could impact 20% of global oil flow [3] Natural Gas Market - European natural gas prices increased by 5% [4] - The Strait of Hormuz is the sole export route for Qatar and the UAE [4] - Qatar and the UAE together account for approximately 20% of global LNG supply [4] Risk Assessment - CIBC private wealth indicates a rising probability of a low probability scenario as the situation evolves [4] - Prices cannot sustain current levels unless barrels actually come off the market [2]