Israel temporarily halts military operations in parts of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of international aid, as global horror intensifies over starvation in the territory.
The Israeli military announced daily “tactical pauses” in three areas along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast – Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and parts of Gaza City.
As part of the plan, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will open designated “secure routes” for humanitarian convoys between 06:00 and 23:00 local time. The pauses in military activity will be enforced daily from 10:00 to 20:00, and will remain in effect “until further notice,” according to military officials.
The move has been cautiously welcomed by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, who have long struggled to deliver sufficient food and medical supplies to the besieged population.
Since the war began in 2023, at least 147 people in Gaza have died from malnutrition, according to Palestinian health officials – 88 of them children. The majority of these deaths have occurred since March.
In addition, the UN reports that more than 1,000 people have been killed since May while attempting to obtain food for their families, with nearly all fatalities caused by Israeli forces.
The new measures come amid intensifying international pressure on Israel to ease restrictions and increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
