Israel has stopped aid from entering northern Gaza but is still allowing it to enter from the south, two officials said on Thursday after images circulated of masked men on aid trucks who clan leaders said were protecting aid,

The Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs, which represents influential clans in the enclave, said trucks had been protected as part of an aid security process.

After twelve days of intense strikes between Israel and Iran – punctuated by the United States’ bombing of Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend and Tehran’s performative retaliation – a US-brokered ceasefire appeared to be holding on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump predicted there will be a ceasefire in Gaza sometime "within the next week." Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump called the situation in Gaza a "terrible situation" but expressed optimism there could soon be a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

President Donald Trump said on Friday he believes it is possible that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict will be reached within a week.