TRANSCRIPT
These demonstrators are gathered outside the US embassy in Tel Aviv.
In the crowd is Shahar Mor, whose family member was killed in the October 7 Hamas attack.
Mor says they're hoping that US President Joe Biden can do what they say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t done.
"I want to encourage the US government and especially the Biden administration to do as much as possible to keep as much weight as possible, because our government is not capable to do anything with the hostage situation.”
Frustration over a lack of progress on hostage release has led to other demonstrations.
At the Nitzana border crossing, a group of furious citizens have blocked an aid convoy coming in.
This woman, identified as Debbie Sharon, argues it's actually doing more harm than good.
"We don't think it's very humanitary. I don't think it's taking care of who it should be taken care of. It's hurting our soldiers, our kidnapped people, and it's also hurting the people of Gaza because whoever's not Hamas is not getting this (aid)."
Over the last few weeks, the “Tzav 9” movement has organised protests at different crossings with the Gaza Strip.
This protester, Reut Ben Chaim, says the release of hostages is what they want.
"It's very simple. Take the hostages back and you will get all the humanitarian aid. Very simple."
It's one of the key themes at peace talks currently being held in Cairo, where the US is playing a key mediation role.
Israel has reportedly refused to come to Egypt for this round of talks because Hamas refused its request to supply a list of all the hostages who are still alive.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim says that's because they're scattered across the war zone, held by separate groups, so they can only be set free after a ceasefire.
But that's also a major sticking point.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller says Israel has asked for a six week ceasefire.
"In our view, it should be possible to reach an agreement. We think the proposal that Israel put on the table in consultation with the United States and with Qatar and Egypt is one that Hamas should agree to."
Hamas says it won't accept a temporary truce.
And spokesman Osama Hamdan it doesn't appreciate US support for that position.
He says Washington's entire stance is designed to deflect blame from Israel if the talks collapse.
"Such thinking confirms that the American administration does not seek to achieve stability in the region, and the American administration is not filled with shedding the blood of the Palestinian people."
Frustrations are also boiling over with the delivery of aid.
The United Nations says food and other supplies are still struggling to reach those who need it.
Doctors like Husam Abu Safiya at Kamal Adwan Hospital says it's clear that extreme hunger has taken hold.
"With the increase in severe cases arriving at the Kamal Adwan Hospital due to starvation and malnutrition, we receive at least 300–400 children daily at the reception and emergency department. 75 percent of the cases suffer malnutrition and severe dehydration. We lost many children as a result of malnutrition."
Israel has blamed UN agencies for being unable to distribute the aid piling up at the territory's two crossings, and for allowing what does get in to fall into the hands of Hamas.
The UN in turn has accused Israel of restricting entry, and taking too long on security checks.
The World Food Programme says its latest 14-truck food convoy waited at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, inside southeast Gaza, for three hours before being turned away by the Israeli army.
It was the first shipment attempted since the agency halted deliveries to the north of Gaza on February 20, after its convoy of trucks faced gunfire and looting.
The State Department's Matthew Miller says that is a problem Israel needs to solve.
"The Secretary also emphasised the need for Israel to act urgently to enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and to improve the distribution of that aid inside Gaza."
But the United States is also taking matters into its own hands.
White House spokesman John Kirby says they've organised air drops of supplies to avoid tensions on the ground.
"Three U.S. C-130s dropped 60 bundles with a total of more than 36,000 meals ready to eat. We were joined in this endeavour by several Jordanian aircraft as well. As President Biden has said, this will be a part of a sustained effort with our international partners to scale up the amount of lifesaving aid that we're getting into Gaza."
