Catherine Hodes was taken hostage by the PFLP at age 13 while traveling from Israel to the U.S. The experience sparked a lifelong commitment to Palestinian liberation.

<article data-history-node-id="430026" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/dozens-aid-trucks-enter-gaza-un-prepares-surge-deliveries" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/dozens-aid-trucks-enter-gaza-un-prepares-surge-deliveries" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Dozens of aid trucks enter Gaza as UN prepares for 'surge' in deliveries</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Aid trucks have begun to arrive, as UN agencies prepare to dramatically scale up deliveries as part of the ceasefire deal which stipulates that 400 trucks will enter the strip daily. This is set to increase to 600- the minimum number estimated by the UN required to address the humanitarian crisis in the strip.&nbsp;Trump's 20-point plan states that the entry and distribution of aid into Gaza will&nbsp;“proceed without interference”, but Israeli administrative restrictions and bureaucracy have long hampered the flow of badly needed aid into the territory.</p> <p>Large-scale aid distribution will be led by the UN, although the role of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa) in the operation remains&nbsp;unclear. The agency&nbsp;has said half the supplies stored in warhouses outside Gaza belong to the agency, emphasising that&nbsp;their scope and expertise within the territory is "absolutely critical&nbsp;in controlling the spread of famine”.</p> <p>An estimated 460 Palestinians have died from Israeli-imposed starvation since it launched its genocide in Gaza in October 2023.</p> <p>The UN children's charity UNICEF&nbsp;warned that there is a risk of a&nbsp;"massive spike in child death, not only neonatal, but also infants, given their immune systems are more compromised than ever before".</p> <p>As the UN prepares to take over aid distribution, the scandal-plagued US and Israeli private contractor Gaza Humanitairan Foundation (GHF)&nbsp;is dismantling its hubs across the strip.&nbsp;Israeli soldiers shot large numbers of Palestinian aid seekers are the distribution sites, which one UN official described as "sadistic death traps". Al Jazeera reported that remnants of Israeli munitions that had been used to attack Palestinians were found at the sites.</p> <p>Mutual aid groups told MEE that tents, trailers and materials for constructing shelter are the number one priority given the onset of wintry weather, shortly followed by medical supplies and doctors.</p> <p>Mohammad Zaqout, the director general of hospitals in Gaza told Al Jazeera that medical supplies and medicines are urgently needed, but none have arrived yet. He added that Israel is obstructing the entry of medical delegations into Gaza.</p> <figure role="group" class="media-block"> <div class="group-inner"> <div alt="gaza aid trucks rafah" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b3de978a-813b-4abb-b2f0-28db54257220" data-langcode="en" class="embedded-entity"> <img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/gaza%20aid%20trucks%20oct%2012%20reuters.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" alt="gaza aid trucks rafah" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </div> <figcaption>Trucks carrying aid bound for Gaza cross the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, Egypt, October 12, 2025 (REUTERS)</figcaption> </div> </figure> <p><span style="background: rgba(220, 220, 220, 0.5) url(&quot;https://www.middleeasteye.net/modules/contrib/ckeditor/vendor/plugins/widget/images/handle.png&quot;); top: -15px; left: 0px;"><img height="15" role="presentation" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==" title="Click and drag to move" width="15" loading="lazy"></span></p> </div> </div> </article>

More Democrats have joined the growing list of names who want to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more commonly known as ICE.