Israel announces military pause on Gaza road to let in aid

 

Israel is under pressure from its allies to enable sufficient aid to reach those living in Gaza

The Israeli military has announced a daily "tactical pause of military activity" along a road in southern Gaza to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid. These pauses, starting from Saturday, will occur from 08:00 to 19:00 local time, but there is no ceasefire, and combat will continue in Rafah. The pause affects a route leading north from the Kerem Shalom crossing, which Gaza shares with Israel.

Aid agency ActionAid told the BBC it was unclear about the implications of these pauses. Israel is under pressure from allies, including the US, to mitigate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The IDF stated that the decision follows discussions with the UN and international organizations. 

The route for the humanitarian pause extends from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din Road, a main highway, then north to the European Hospital near Khan Younis. The IDF emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that there is no ceasefire in southern Gaza, and fighting in Rafah will continue.

Ziad Issa from ActionAid stated that the pause could help aid delivery but needed more logistical details. He noted significant attacks on aid convoys recently. According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were not informed about the pause before its announcement. Netanyahu reportedly called the plan "unacceptable."

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticized the decision, calling it made by a "fool" and "evil." Since Israeli troops entered Rafah over a month ago, hundreds of thousands have fled, and the Rafah crossing with Egypt has been closed. Israel claims its operation in Rafah aims to remove Hamas from its "last major stronghold."

International agencies have warned of a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for more aid. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions in Gaza. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza remains significantly below the required level, with only 97 daily in May compared to 500 before the war began on October 7. OCHA reports that it has been unable to directly observe aid arrivals from the private sector through Kerem Shalom since May 7.

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The IDF reported that eight Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in Rafah on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident for the army since January. The explosion occurred during an operation in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, a focal point for Israeli forces in recent weeks. Hamas's armed wing claimed responsibility, stating it had fired a rocket at an armored vehicle following an ambush.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war against Hamas, urging Israelis to remain focused on the war's goals despite the heavy toll. "The elimination of Hamas' governmental and military capabilities, the return of all our hostages, ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, and the safe return of our residents in the north and south," he emphasized.

Aid agencies have reported significant challenges in distributing aid within Gaza. UNICEF told the BBC that a convoy with necessary documents was denied entry to northern Gaza. UNICEF spokesman James Elder, who was with the convoy, said such denials had become common. The IDF responded that the paperwork was incomplete and accused Elder of providing a "partial picture" of the situation.

The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war started, with hundreds of thousands more injured or displaced.

Negotiations for a potential ceasefire and hostage release between Israel and Hamas are ongoing. The US announced that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will soon visit Washington for talks. Earlier this week, Hamas made counter-proposals to a US-backed plan, which includes a "surge" in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

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