GAZA: Israel has announced a limited “tactical pause” in military operations across select areas of the Gaza Strip in an effort to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries amid growing warnings of mass starvation.
According to the Israeli military, the daily pause will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (12 p.m. to 10 p.m. PKT) in regions where Israeli ground forces are not currently active — including Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah, and parts of Gaza City.
The move comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. On Sunday alone, over 50 Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes and shootings, including civilians near aid distribution points, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence agency.
Israel said the pause is intended to open “secure land routes” for the United Nations and aid agencies to safely transport food, water, and medicine across Gaza. It claimed the decision was coordinated with international organisations to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies.
In addition to opening ground corridors, the Israeli military said it had begun air-dropping food into Gaza and dismissed allegations that it is deliberately using starvation as a weapon. The army asserted that its actions “disprove the false claim of deliberate starvation in the Gaza Strip.”
However, humanitarian organisations have yet to publicly respond. Several aid officials, speaking off record, said they are waiting to assess whether the new measures lead to actual improvements on the ground.
The United Arab Emirates earlier announced a resumption of aid drops, and the UK said it is coordinating with Jordan and other partners to support humanitarian efforts.
Meanwhile, Gaza residents continue to face extreme conditions. “We ask God and our Arab brothers to work harder to reach a ceasefire before we all die,” said Hossam Sobh, a local man who narrowly avoided gunfire while collecting flour near an Israeli tank.
Israel’s full blockade of Gaza has been in place since March 2, with only limited aid allowed through since late May.
