The Israeli army has announced pauses in fighting in three areas in Gaza. In Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, the violence will be paused “until further notice” between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM (local time).
The army speaks of “humanitarian pauses” to improve the situation in Gaza. According to the IDF, “tactical breaks in the fighting are being implemented,” write Al Jazeera and BBC News. The decision is said to have been made in collaboration with, among others, the United Nations.
“Safe routes” have been designated in Gaza for the delivery of aid, writes news agency Reuters. These routes must be safe between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM (local time) to ensure the safe movement of UN and other aid convoys. It is not yet clear whether the army will adhere to the combat pauses.
With the pauses, the army hopes to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The famine in Gaza is increasing after Israel did not allow aid supplies for weeks. In addition, the Palestinians are only allowed to stay in a very small area. More than a hundred aid organizations rang the alarm this week because of the famine in the area.
Egyptian state television Al Qahera News TV reports that trucks with aid supplies from Egypt are en route to the border with Gaza at Rafah. It is not yet clear whether they will be allowed into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, seven pallets with aid and food have arrived in Gaza via airdrops. “These include flour, sugar and canned food, which are supplied by international organizations,” the Israeli army wrote on X.
Aid organizations are critical of the airdrops and have repeatedly called them a “drop in the ocean”. Experts also told NU.nl that airdrops are not a solution to the humanitarian crisis and only serve as a distraction.