Just inside the border fence between Israel and Gaza, 950 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid are parked in neat rows—each one carrying enough food to feed 5,000 people. That’s nearly 4.7 million meals sitting idle in the blistering sun, not because they can’t be delivered, but because the United Nations refuses to distribute them. The reason? Doing so would mean cooperating with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and apparently, political posturing takes priority over feeding the hungry.

I was there. I saw the trucks. I spoke with the IDF officers overseeing the process. The KM Shalom distribution yard is not a ghost town—it's an active, secure checkpoint where aid is being processed, inspected, and prepared for delivery. The Israeli military has opened the door for humanitarian efforts to operate safely. But the UN has effectively slammed it shut, choosing ideological purity over practical compassion.

The prevailing media narrative often accuses Israel of “blocking aid” into Gaza. But here’s the truth on the ground: Israel isn’t blocking humanitarian aid—Hamas is looting it, and the UN is refusing to cooperate to ensure it gets where it needs to go. In the absence of leadership from the world’s largest humanitarian body, smaller organizations have taken up the mantle.

By Chuck Holton | July 25, 2025

What's Happening

Fighting has broken out along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, two countries in Southeast Asia. At least 14 people are dead, over 100,000 civilians have been displaced, and both sides are using heavy weapons — including jets, rockets, and artillery.

From the cobblestone streets of Lefkara, Cyprus—where I spent the evening walking with my wife Connie—I’m seeing firsthand how far the ripple effects of Israel’s war with Hamas have reached. Just this morning, I woke in Tel Aviv to the sound of sirens. It wasn’t the first time. The Houthi rebels fired two missiles at Israel—one intercepted by Israeli air defenses, the other self-destructing before it even entered Israeli airspace.

“That’s one of several hundred missiles fired since March,” I told my livestream audience. “But none of them have hit anything of consequence. Israel’s air defenses are doing their job, and their response is as measured as it is relentless.”

Israel isn’t merely retaliating. It’s executing precision strikes aimed at dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure and cutting off Iranian supply lines. Just last night, Israeli drones targeted Yemen’s port of Hodeida, destroying heavy equipment that was being used to repair the port and allow more weapons shipments from Tehran.

“They blew up the earth movers, the cranes—anything Iran could use to funnel arms to the Houthis,” I explained. “Israel and its allies are making it harder for the Houthis to maintain their reign of annoyance over Israel. That’s really all it is at this point—annoyance. But one that can’t be ignored.”

The Media’s Full-Court Press

While Israel’s military maintains the upper hand on the ground and in the air, it’s fighting an equally vicious battle in the court of global opinion. Twenty-eight nations recently signed a joint statement demanding Israel halt its offensive.

I asked viewers to consider the implications. “Think about what stopping the war now would mean,” I said. “No hostages returned. Hamas stays in power. Another generation of terrorists grows up in Gaza. More Israelis murdered in the future. That’s what the world is asking for when they say, ‘Stop the war.’”

It’s true, the suffering in Gaza is heartbreaking. But this suffering isn’t arbitrary—it’s the direct result of Hamas’ actions. “This is called consequences. Gaza still holds Israeli hostages. Until they’re freed, pressure must increase. Only then can this end.”

A Divided Island, A Divided World

Cyprus, where I’m spending a brief layover, offers its own cautionary tale. The island has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded and occupied nearly 40% of the territory. Today, the Greek Cypriot side is prosperous and peaceful. The Turkish-occupied north? Struggling economically and rife with instability.