As Hamas struggles to maintain control in Gaza, new aid mechanisms expose its governance failures, increasing public calls for an end to the war and for hostages' return.

The early success of the American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation-run aid centers has the ability to significantly dent Hamas’s control over food distribution in the coastal enclave, The Jerusalem Post learned Friday.

Hamas is starving the residents of Gaza and looting the aid intended for them; Hamas continues to hold 58 of our hostages captive.'

The Israeli military is again advancing into Gaza and has blocked most aid, causing widespread hunger. A new but widely criticized system for getting relief in started operating this week.

The situation in Gaza is the worst since the war between Israel and Hamas militants began 19-months ago, the United Nations said on Friday, despite a resumption of limited aid deliveries in the Palestinian enclave where famine looms.

Hamas is warning desperate Palestinians from heading to the controversial US-backed food distribution sites in Gaza, which saw chaos erupt upon opening Tuesday as thousands of hungry Gazans

A new Israel – and US-backed – aid model bypasses Hamas and delivers food directly to Gazans, shifting dynamics on the ground and triggering strong criticism abroad.

Hamas sources said last week the group had accepted a US-backed deal, but on Thursday political bureau member Bassem Naim said the new version meant "the continuation of killing and famine... and does not meet any of our people's demands, foremost among them halting the war".