Israel Pauses Attacks in Parts of Gaza to Allow Limited Aid Amid Escalating Global Criticism

Israel has announced a significant change to its military campaign in Gaza, pausing attacks for 10 hours daily in Gaza’s largest population centers—including Gaza City, Deir al Balah, and the vast Al-Mawasi tent camp—to enable humanitarian aid deliveries. These daily pauses, running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., come as mounting international outrage focuses on growing famine conditions in the blockaded region.On the first day of the new policy, limited shipments of food and other vital supplies managed to enter Gaza. The decision follows warnings from the World Health Organization about mass starvation and statements from the UN World Food Programme labeling the hunger crisis there as “astonishing.” According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 130 Palestinians—most of them children—have died from hunger and malnutrition since the war erupted in October 2023.Israeli officials, however, have denied there is starvation in Gaza, claiming such allegations are “a false campaign promoted by Hamas.” The Israeli military recently guided journalists to witness large stores of aid piled on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, blaming the United Nations for failing to distribute this assistance inside Gaza. UN officials counter that their efforts are stymied by extreme risks to aid convoys and workers amid ongoing violence.Aid organizations argue that only a ceasefire—not a temporary pause—can provide the security needed to deliver lifesaving aid at scale. While Israel’s new pause has enabled some deliveries, incidents of violence persist. Local authorities say the Israeli military recently killed at least 94 Palestinians seeking food aid at distribution points.Meanwhile, the United States has pulled out of the latest ceasefire talks, frustrated by what it calls Hamas’s lack of good faith in negotiations. Washington says it may consider “alternative options” to secure the release of hostages and restore stability in Gaza.In addition to Israel’s logistical steps—such as resuming aid airdrops and boosting water supplies—international partners are stepping up. The Jordanian military has conducted several humanitarian airdrops and is sending in 60 trucks with food, while Egypt’s Red Crescent dispatched more than 100 trucks of aid into Gaza over the weekend. However, not all aid reaches its destination: the Israeli navy recently intercepted an aid ship attempting to break the blockade.For many humanitarian organizations, Israel’s pause offers a glimmer of hope but falls far short of what’s needed to end Gaza’s profound suffering and hunger. Only a comprehensive ceasefire, they argue, can address the root causes of the crisis and ensure unrestricted access for lifesaving relief.