Israel won't impose "starvation plan" in Gaza, defense minister tells U.S.

• The IDF began a new ground operation last week in the town of Jabalya north of Gaza city and ordered Palestinian civilians in the area to evacuate.
• U.N. humanitarian coordinator Muhannad Hadi said in a statement on Sunday that pressure is mounting on Palestinians who remain in northern Gaza to leave southwards.
• "A military siege that deprives civilians of essential means of survival is unacceptable ... Civilians must not be forced to choose between displacement and starvation," he said.
• According to the UN, at least 50,000 Palestinians have been displaced from northern Gaza over the last two weeks.

The recent Israeli steps in northern Gaza raised serious concerns in the Biden administration and the UN that Israel is implementing a plan proposed by a group of retired IDF generals and that has gained traction inside the Israeli security cabinet.

• The plan calls for imposing a siege on the northern Gaza strip, allowing the remaining 400,000 Palestinian civilians to leave and then starving Hamas militants that stay in the area until they surrender.

Behind the scenes: The Pentagon said Austin expressed concern to Gallant about the dire humanitarian situation in northern Gaza and stressed that steps must be taken soon to address it.

• Israeli officials said Gallant made clear to Austin during their call that Israel is not implementing the retired "Generals' Plan" and isn't imposing a siege on northern Gaza.

The latest: Gallant reiterated this message in a call with U.S. ambassador to Israel Jack Lew on Monday, Israeli officials said.

• The Israeli defense minister told the U.S. ambassador that the IDF has opened the Zikim crossing in northwest Gaza and that the first aid trucks entered on Monday, Israeli officials said.
• The IDF said 30 trucks carrying flour and food from the UN World Food Program were transferred on Monday from the Port of Ashdod through the "Erez West" (Zikim) crossing to the northern Gaza Strip.
• It was the first delivery of aid to northern Gaza since the first week of October, an Israeli official said.
• The official said none of the 30 trucks that entered northern Gaza on Monday arrived in Jabalya. The official added that delivery of humanitarian aid for Jabalya will be coordinated in the coming days.

Gallant told the U.S. ambassador that the IDF is still fighting pockets of Hamas resistance in northern Gaza.

• He said aid delivery through the private sector in Gaza stopped because of connections between local merchants and Hamas, Israeli officials said.

What to watch: Most U.S. and international attention shifted to the war in Lebanon and the looming Israeli retaliation against Iran, but the fighting in Gaza continues.

• On Monday, the Israeli Air Force conducted a strike on the compound of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
• The airstrike ignited a fire in tents erected in the compound by displaced Palestinian civilians. At least four people were killed and 40 wounded, according to local health officials.
• Videos on social media showed harrowing footage of several people and bodies engulfed with flames.
• The IDF claimed the strike targeted a Hamas command and control center.

What they're saying: "The images and video of what appear to be displaced civilians burning alive following an Israeli airstrike are deeply disturbing and we have made our concerns clear to the Israeli government," a National Security Council spokesperson said, adding "Israel has a responsibility to do more to avoid civilian casualties."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with more details about the aid trucks that entered northern Gaza on Monday and a statement from a National Security Council spokesperson.