The Israeli military’s 10-hour battle in three heavily populated areas of Gaza on Sunday started as part of a series of steps as fears of acute hunger on the territory, Israel faces a wave of international criticism of its actions during the 21-month war.
The military said it will start a “tactical pause” in Gaza city, Deir Al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas of the territory with a large population, entering the territory to “increase the scale of humanitarian aid”.
The suspension will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time until further notice.
The military also said it would establish a safe route to provide assistance and aid to Gaza, which includes aid for packaging of flour, sugar and canned food.
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Food experts warned of the risk of famine in Gaza for months, where Israel restricted aid because it said Hamas aid cargo to help strengthen its rule without providing evidence of the claim. Images from Gaza have incited global criticism of Israel in recent days, including by close allies who call for an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it has already produced.
Israel said new measures are underway, while Hamas is attacking elsewhere. Before the pause, Gaza health officials said at least 16 Palestinians were killed in a separate strike.
“this [humanitarian] “The truce will not be a real opportunity to save lives, and it will be nothing,” said Dr. Muneer Al-Boursh, Director-General of the Ministry of Health of Gaza.
“Each delay is measured by another funeral.”
The local pause in the battle comes days after a seemingly doubtful ceasefire effort between Israel and Hamas. On Friday, Israel and the United States recalled their negotiating teams, blaming Hamas and Israel for saying they were considering “alternative options” with militant groups.
Israel eased the lockdown slightly in May under international pressure. Since then, it has allowed about 4,500 trucks to be distributed by the United Nations and other aid groups. However, on average, 69 trucks per day are much lower than what the UN calls Gaza needs between 500 and 600 trucks per day.
The UN said it could not allocate a large amount of aid as hungry people and gangs took most of it from the arrival truck.
To transfer aid delivery from control of the United Nations, Israel supports the U.S.-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which opened four centers to distribute food supply boxes in May. The UN Human Rights Office said more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May.
Israel opposed the United Nations throughout the war, saying its system allowed Hamas to steal aid. The United Nations denied the request and said its delivery mechanism was the best way to bring assistance to Palestinians.
The military said the new steps were coordinated with the United Nations and other humanitarian groups. The United Nations did not comment immediately.
The majority of Gaza’s population is being fought to the point where it is squeezed on increasing land and now relies on aid.
The latest war began with an attack in southern Israel led by Hamas in October 2023, where militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and captured 251 hostages. Hamas still holds 50 hostages, more than half of which are considered dead.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israel’s retaliatory offensive killed more than 59,700 Palestinians. Its number does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry said more than half of the dead were women and children.
