In a move aimed at easing mounting international pressure and addressing a deepening humanitarian crisis, the Israeli military on Sunday introduced a daily 10-hour “tactical pause” in its offensive across three heavily populated areas of Gaza.
The goal, according to officials, is to facilitate the flow of aid amid growing global outrage over worsening hunger during the nearly two-year-long conflict.
The pause, effective daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, will cover Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi, areas that have seen an influx of displaced civilians.
The military said the measure is intended to “increase the scale of humanitarian aid” reaching the population and will be accompanied by secure aid corridors.
In addition, aid airdrops containing essential supplies like flour, sugar, and canned goods have reportedly been carried out.
Experts have warned for months about the looming threat of famine in Gaza, which has suffered from significant aid restrictions imposed by Israel.
Israeli authorities accuse Hamas of diverting aid for its own use, though they have not substantiated these claims with evidence.
Disturbing images of severely malnourished children have recently surfaced from Gaza, fueling global condemnation, even from Israel’s closest allies.
These nations have called for an immediate end to the fighting and for urgent measures to address the worsening humanitarian disaster.
Though the Israeli military insists operations against Hamas will continue elsewhere, the health ministry in Gaza reported that 16 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes shortly before the pause began.
“This (humanitarian) truce will mean nothing if it doesn’t turn into a real opportunity to save lives,” said Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, director-general of Gaza’s Health Ministry.
He appealed for immediate deliveries of medical aid and nutritional support, especially for children. “Every delay is measured by another funeral.”
This localized pause follows a setback in cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. On Friday, both Israel and the United States withdrew their negotiating teams, blaming Hamas for the collapse of talks.
Israeli officials stated they were now considering “alternative options” to the stalled peace process.
Mahmoud Merdawi, a senior Hamas leader, responded by claiming that Israel’s sudden focus on the humanitarian situation acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians and was merely an attempt to salvage its global image.
He stated, “Israel will not escape punishment and will inevitably pay the price for these criminal practices.”
Following the collapse of a previous cease-fire in March, Israel had completely sealed off the Gaza Strip for two and a half months, halting the entry of food, fuel, medicine, and other aid in an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages.
By May, international backlash prompted a slight easing of the blockade. Since then, roughly 4,500 aid trucks have entered the territory for distribution by the United Nations and other groups.
But this averages only about 69 trucks daily, well below the 500 to 600 trucks the U.N. says are required. Even then, aid distribution has been hindered by chaos, with mobs and armed gangs reportedly seizing supplies from trucks.
Seeking to bypass the U.N., Israel has supported the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-registered organization that opened four food distribution centers in May.
However, the U.N. human rights office reports that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while attempting to reach these aid points, most of them near the newly established sites.
Israel has frequently criticized the U.N.’s aid system, accusing it of enabling Hamas to steal supplies. The U.N. refutes this, saying its system remains the most reliable method to get aid to civilians.
Israel’s military said its latest actions were coordinated with the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations, though the U.N. has yet to issue a response.
With much of Gaza’s population confined to shrinking safe zones due to the ongoing bombardments, humanitarian aid has become the lifeline for survival.
Meanwhile, violence persisted. An Israeli airstrike reportedly killed nine people in the Asdaa area, northwest of Khan Younis, including two fathers and their children, according to Nasser Hospital.
In Gaza City, a late-night strike on an apartment in the western district killed four individuals, including two women, the Health Ministry’s ambulance and emergency service reported. Four more were injured.
Another early Sunday airstrike in Deir al-Balah struck a tent near a desalination plant, killing a couple and another woman, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on these specific attacks but confirmed the deaths of two more soldiers in Gaza, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since October 7, 2023, to 898.
The current conflict erupted following Hamas’ cross-border assault into southern Israel in October 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Israel claims Hamas is still holding 50 hostages, most of whom are presumed dead.
In contrast, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 59,700 Palestinians have died in the Israeli offensive, over half of them women and children.
