Israeli military officials have stated that the UN's aid operation in Gaza is "relatively reliable" and less prone to Hamas interference due to its controlled supply chain, according to a New York Times report. Officials found no evidence of regular theft from the UN, which delivers the bulk of aid, although Hamas did steal from smaller groups lacking oversight. This information was shared with Prime Minister Netanyahu's adviser in mid-March, when officials discussed a new Gaza aid system and raised concerns about making G.H.F. the sole aid provider, advocating for an expanded UN role. In a separate development, a former U.S. special forces lieutenant-colonel working as a security contractor for the Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) told the BBC that he witnessed Israeli forces firing into crowds of unarmed, starving Palestinians at GHF aid distribution points in Gaza. Anthony Aguilar described these attacks as "indiscriminate" and "the worst brutality" he has ever witnessed, stating he "witnessed war crimes." Meanwhile, Israeli Minister Eli Cohen announced that "everyone connected to Hamas will not sleep well at night" following the approval of plans by the cabinet. Separately, a body was discovered inside a bus that caught fire from an explosion in a parking lot in Bat Yam on Saturday evening, according to the Jerusalem Post. The Popular Forces, an independent Palestinian group led by Abu Shabab, claims to have secured areas in Gaza governed by an administration not affiliated with Hamas since 2007, reporting no airstrike casualties, chaotic aid lines, or fear of booby-trapped homes in their neighborhood. Abu Shabab claims Hamas killed his brother and cousin for attempting to secure aid and that 52 civilians under their care were murdered. Reports indicate that Hamas security forces have decided to increase the alert status of their abducted security unit, including activating an "instant elimination" protocol, due to the possibility of IDF forces preparing for abduction operations. In a statement, a source in Hamas security forces said this measure is to prevent the abduction of hostages. Humanitarian efforts are ongoing, with 90 food trucks unloading cargo on Friday and the UN gathering over a hundred food deliveries. A new flotilla, "Break the Bass on Gaza," is approaching Gaza's maritime border. Downing Street confirmed that London is working on a plan to drop humanitarian aid by air into Gaza. Separately, a statement attributed to Avichay Adraee criticizes a prosecutor for discussing the suffering of Gaza's people, calling them part of a "false media machine" promoting propaganda and falsifying facts. The statement asserts that the prosecutor represents Hamas and contributes to misleading information, while rejecting the notion of representing the oppressed. The statement also claims that the prosecutor does not recognize that his state is practicing genocide and imposes hunger and displacement on the people of Gaza.
