Economist Podcasts

Pause for little effect: a trickle of aid in Gaza

47 snips
Jul 29, 2025
Greg Karlstrom, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist, discusses the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where tactical pauses in aid efforts seem more beneficial for international optics than for starving civilians. He highlights the challenges of delivering aid amidst ongoing conflict and the complexity of the situation. The conversation also touches on Japan's controversial law requiring couples to share surnames, its potential links to declining birth rates, and the cultural implications of these marital traditions.
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INSIGHT

Limited Impact of Tactical Pauses

  • Israel's "tactical pauses" in Gaza allow limited humanitarian aid entry and distribution but have been largely insufficient.
  • The aid efforts mainly serve to ease international criticism without significantly alleviating starvation in Gaza.
INSIGHT

Pressure Shaping Aid in Gaza

  • Intense international criticism has pressured Israel to slightly ease its blockade on Gaza.
  • Despite some aid being allowed, the response remains a "drop in the ocean" compared to needs.
INSIGHT

Aid Delivery Hindered by Challenges

  • Current aid deliveries to Gaza remain far below needs, with airdrops being inefficient.
  • The UN's ability to bring aid through Israel is uncertain and often blocked, limiting impact.
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