In a response to mounting international pressure and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the Israeli military announced on Sunday a temporary daily halt to combat operations in three densely populated areas of the territory. The 10-hour “tactical pause” aims to facilitate increased humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians suffering from acute food insecurity. According to Israeli officials, these pauses will occur daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and the Muwasi area, and will remain in effect until further notice.
This decision comes as part of a broader set of measures taken by Israel in an attempt to counter severe criticism over its handling of the ongoing 21-month war in Gaza. In addition to the pause, the military confirmed that it conducted aid airdrops into Gaza containing essential items such as flour, sugar, and canned food. The move follows months of warnings from food security experts about the risk of famine in the enclave, exacerbated by prolonged Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Despite Israel’s assertion that aid is misappropriated by Hamas, no concrete evidence has been publicly provided. Meanwhile, harrowing images of malnourished children in Gaza have drawn condemnation even from some of Israel’s closest allies, many of whom are now calling for an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it continues to generate.
The pause in combat does not signal an end to military operations. Israel has reiterated that its offensive against Hamas will persist in other areas. On the same day the pause was announced, Gaza health officials reported at least 16 Palestinian deaths resulting from Israeli airstrikes. One of the strikes hit a tent sheltering a displaced family near Khan Younis, killing nine people, including children. Other strikes in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah resulted in additional civilian casualties, including women and children.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of faltering ceasefire negotiations. Just days earlier, both Israel and the United States withdrew their negotiating teams from talks, blaming Hamas for the breakdown and indicating a search for “alternative options.” Since ending the last ceasefire in March, Israel had imposed a total blockade on food, medicine, fuel, and other supplies for more than two months to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. While some restrictions were eased in May, only about 4,500 trucks carrying aid have been allowed into Gaza, translating to an average of 69 trucks per day—far below the 500 to 600 trucks the United Nations deems necessary to meet basic needs.
Further complicating aid delivery is the chaos on the ground. The U.N. reports that much of the aid arriving is intercepted by desperate crowds and criminal groups before it can be properly distributed. To circumvent this, Israel has supported a U.S.-registered organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates food distribution centers. However, the U.N. human rights office reports that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed—mostly around these new centers—by Israeli forces while attempting to access food since May.
Currently, a vast majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced into increasingly smaller areas, where survival depends almost entirely on aid. The humanitarian pauses, while potentially useful, offer little respite from the ongoing bloodshed.
