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Gaza/Jerusalem – July 27, 2025
In response to rising international pressure over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Israel has announced daily 10-hour pauses in military operations across parts of the war-torn enclave. The announcement comes as severe malnutrition, mass hunger, and escalating civilian casualties draw global condemnation.
Humanitarian Pause and New Aid Corridors
According to the Israeli military, the pause will occur daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (local time) in three designated areas:
- Al-Mawasi, a humanitarian zone along the coast
- Deir al-Balah in central Gaza
- Gaza City in the north
The goal, Israeli officials said, is to facilitate the entry and distribution of aid more safely. In tandem, secure aid routes will be open for food and medicine convoys between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
“We are committed to allowing humanitarian support through controlled and secure pathways,” said an Israeli spokesperson. However, Israel continues to assert the need for tight oversight to prevent aid from being seized or diverted by Hamas.
Airdrops Begin as Land Routes Struggle
On Sunday, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates conducted their first airdrops in months, delivering over 25 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza. While the effort was welcomed, Jordanian officials emphasized it is no substitute for regular land-based delivery.
Disturbingly, at least 10 Palestinians were injured in Gaza City after being struck by falling aid packages.
The Egyptian Red Crescent also announced the dispatch of over 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tons of food to southern Gaza. Yet, many trucks remained stuck at inspection points like Kerem Shalom, delaying vital support.
Starvation and Civilian Casualties Mount
The humanitarian pause comes amid deeply troubling reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which has now confirmed:
- 133 deaths from malnutrition, including 87 children
- Six new deaths reported in the last 24 hours alone
- The heartbreaking death of a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, due to hunger in Khan Younis
Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals said Israeli fire killed 17 people and wounded 50 others waiting for aid trucks on Sunday. Israel has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Tensions
The move to increase aid access follows a chorus of international condemnation:
- A coalition of 25 nations, including France, Britain, and Canada, recently criticized Israel for “drip-feeding aid” into Gaza.
- French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state in response to the crisis.
- UN aid chief Tom Fletcher vowed that humanitarian workers would use the pause to “reach as many starving people as we can in this window.”
Despite the aid effort, ceasefire talks in Doha between Hamas and Israel have broken down. U.S. and Israeli officials say Hamas is not serious about reaching a deal.
Israel’s Stance: Fighting Will Continue
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the military campaign is far from over:
“We will continue to fight, we will continue to act until we achieve all of our war goals — until complete victory.”
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the aid initiative as a “capitulation” and pushed again for a total blockade of Gaza and the reoccupation of the territory.
A Glimmer of Hope Among Gaza’s Despair
For Gaza’s beleaguered residents, the temporary pause offered a mix of hope and uncertainty. Business owner Tamer Al-Burai expressed cautious optimism:
“People are happy that large amounts of food aid will come into Gaza. We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up.”
Still, Hamas officials rejected the humanitarian measures, calling them a “military ruse” meant to deflect criticism rather than offer real relief.
The War’s Toll So Far
- War began: October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led incursion that killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages
- Death toll in Gaza: Nearly 60,000 people, mostly civilians
- Gaza displaced population: Nearly 2.2 million people
- Infrastructure damage: Widespread, with much of the enclave reduced to rubble