Israel declared a daily 12-hour humanitarian pause in
fighting across parts of Gaza on Sunday, aiming to facilitate aid deliveries as
starvation spreads among the enclave’s 2.3 million residents. The military said
the pause—effective from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm local time—would allow the UN and
aid agencies to operate along designated routes in Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah,
and Gaza City, areas where Israeli forces claim they are not actively engaged.
Aid Efforts Expand Amid Denials of "Deliberate
Starvation"
The Israeli military denied accusations that it is using hunger as a weapon, announcing it had begun airdropping food into Gaza and opened secure land corridors for aid convoys. However, UN agencies and NGOs remained skeptical, awaiting tangible results before endorsing the move.
Airdrops criticized: Humanitarian leaders, including UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, called airdrops "expensive, inefficient, and dangerous" after past incidents where aid parcels killed civilians.
Land restrictions persist: Despite Israeli claims of
"no limits" on aid trucks, humanitarian groups say excessive military
checks and road closures continue to obstruct deliveries.
Ceasefire Talks Stall as Death Toll Rises
The announcement follows weeks of failed negotiations and a near-total blockade imposed by Israel in March. Over the weekend:
50+ Palestinians killed in strikes near aid distribution points, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense.
Activist boat intercepted: Israeli forces seized a vessel
from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition attempting to break Gaza’s naval blockade.
International Response
The UAE and UK pledged to resume airdrops, though aid workers argue land access is the only viable solution.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a U.S.-backed
initiative—has faced backlash after deadly incidents involving Israeli fire
near aid lines.
A Deepening Catastrophe
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 59,733 Palestinians killed since October, while the UN warns of "mass starvation." With media access severely restricted, independent verification of casualty figures remains challenging.
"We beg for a ceasefire before we all die," said Hossam Sobh, a Gaza resident who narrowly escaped Israeli tank fire while retrieving flour.
As the world watches, the question remains: Will these
pauses be enough to reverse Gaza’s man-made famine?