Israel starts daily pause in Gaza areas to allow 'minimal' aid as hunger grows

The Israeli military on Sunday began a limited pause in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza as concerns grow over surging hunger. Israel is also facing international criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war.

The military said the “tactical pause” in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi, three areas with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory. The pause runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice.

“Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

As the military had warned, combat operations continued otherwise. Health officials in Gaza said Israeli strikes killed at least 38 Palestinians from late Saturday into Sunday, including 23 seeking aid. An airstrike on a Gaza City apartment killed a woman and her four children. Another strike killed four people, including a boy, his mother, and grandfather, in the eastern Zaytoun neighborhood.

Israel's military had no immediate comment.

Food experts have warned for months of the risk of famine in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid to the population of over 2 million because it says Hamas siphons off goods to help bolster its rule, without providing evidence.

Images in recent days of emaciated children in Gaza have fanned global criticism of Israel, including by close allies, who call for an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it has created. Much of Gaza’s population, squeezed by fighting into ever tinier patches of land, now relies on aid.

‘Every delay is measured by another funeral’

Israel's military also said it would put in place secure routes for aid delivery. It said the new steps were made in coordination with the United Nations and other humanitarian groups.

Neighboring Jordan said it carried out three airdrops over Gaza, including one in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, dropping 25 tons of food and supplies on several locations.

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) welcomed the steps and said it had enough food in, or on its way, to feed all of Gaza for nearly three months. It said a ceasefire was needed to ensure goods reached everyone in need. WFP has said a third of Gaza’s population were not eating for days and nearly half a million were enduring famine-like conditions.

Dr Muneer al-Boursh, director-general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, called for a flood of medical supplies and other goods to help treat child malnutrition after an increase in hunger-related deaths.

“This (humanitarian) truce will mean nothing if it doesn’t turn into a real opportunity to save lives,” he said. “Every delay is measured by another funeral.”

The local pauses in fighting came as ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas appeared to be in doubt. Israel and the United States recalled their negotiating teams from Qatar on Thursday, blaming Hamas, and Israel said it was considering “alternative options” to talks.

Israel says it is prepared to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something the group has refused.

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi said Israel's change of tack on the humanitarian crisis amounted to an acknowledgement that there were starving Palestinians in Gaza, and asserted that the move was meant to improve its international standing and not save lives.

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