Pope Leo XIV says the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, "the heartbreaking price of which is paid by children, the elderly, the sick," must end and food must be allowed in.

The new pontiff's comments, in line with his position on global conflict, come as Israel begins allowing a trickle of aid in that humanitarians say is not enough.

The first few aid trucks have entered Gaza following nearly three months of Israel’s complete blockade of food, medicine and other supplies.

Israel lets limited aid into Gaza, easing its blockade as Netanyahu says his allies can't tolerate "images of mass famine" in the war-torn Palestinian territory.

Tom Fletcher tells the BBC five aid trucks allowed into Gaza yesterday have not yet reached people on the ground.

Israel allowed some aid into Gaza on Monday, ending a two-month blockade. Coupled with equivocation over battlefield strategy, the move highlights the government’s effort to balance competing interests.

CAIRO: Israel will ease its blockade and let limited amounts of food into Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Sunday (May 18), after the military announced it had begun "extensive ground operations" in the northern and southern parts of the enclave.

The UK, France and Canada have warned Israel they will take "concrete actions" if it continues an "egregious" expansion of military operations in Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer joined the French and Canadian leaders to call on the Israeli government to "stop its military operations" and "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza".