Israel Announces Daily Pauses in Gaza Fighting to Allow Aid Corridors
Israel said on Sunday it will pause military operations daily for 10 hours in select areas of Gaza to allow the safe passage of humanitarian aid, following growing international concern over starvation and the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Designated Humanitarian Areas and Timeframes
The daily pause will occur from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (0700–1700 GMT) in several areas, including Al-Mawasi, parts of central Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. These zones are marked as humanitarian corridors where fighting will stop until further notice.
In addition, safe routes for aid convoys delivering food and medicine will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, starting Sunday, the Israeli military said.
Aid Efforts Intensify Amid Famine Warnings
U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said humanitarian teams will maximize their efforts during the pause windows to reach as many people as possible. “We will do all we can to feed the starving during these hours,” he wrote on X.
Despite these measures, at least 17 people were reportedly killed and 50 injured on Sunday while waiting for aid trucks, according to health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals. Israel’s military has not yet responded to these reports.
Thousands of Gazans gathered at aid distribution points in anticipation of deliveries, according to Reuters witnesses and local sources.
Malnutrition Crisis Deepens
The Gaza Health Ministry reported six new deaths from malnutrition in the last 24 hours, raising the total to 133, including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital.
Her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, expressed grief after her daughter’s three-month hospital stay ended in tragedy.
Aid Flows Through Kerem Shalom and Airdrops Begin
On Sunday, the Egyptian Red Crescent dispatched over 100 aid trucks carrying more than 1,200 metric tons of food through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Hours earlier, Israel began airdropping aid into Gaza, saying it aimed to relieve humanitarian pressure.
Despite these actions, aid groups warn of mass hunger across Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, leading to increased global pressure—including France’s announcement to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
International Condemnation of Limited Aid Access
A group of 25 nations, including Britain, France, and Canada, recently condemned the “drip feeding” of aid, calling Israel’s blockade on essentials unacceptable.
The U.N. stated that humanitarian pauses would improve aid delivery but criticized Israel for not providing enough safe routes, which has hindered access to critical areas.
Israel Defends Policy Amid Rising Criticism
Israel said it resumed aid entry in May under new conditions and claims it has allowed sufficient supplies into Gaza. It blames Hamas for blocking distribution and insists that controls are necessary to prevent diversion by militants.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed the aid plan, calling it a capitulation to Hamas and pushing for a complete cutoff of aid, military takeover of Gaza, and encouragement of population departure. The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment.
Stalled Ceasefire Talks and Continued Violence
Ceasefire negotiations in Doha have stalled, with the U.S. and Israel recently suggesting that Hamas does not want a deal. Talks in Sweden between China’s Vice Premier and U.S. officials are ongoing, with an August 12 deadline looming for a lasting agreement before tariff increases resume.
Devastating Toll of the Gaza Conflict
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters entered southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli data.
Since then, Israel’s military offensive has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, and left much of the territory in ruins, displacing almost the entire population.
