The Israeli military has announced a daily "tactical pause" in the southern Gaza Strip to allow increased humanitarian aid to enter the region amid pressure from international organisations.
The Israeli army will enforce a "local, tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes" between 08:00 and 19:00, only in the southern Gaza Strip, until further notice, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced on social media. The aim is to let more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
In its statement, it added that the decision was made "following additional related discussions with the United Nations and international organisations". No military activities will take place along the road leading from the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Salah al-Din, one of Gaza’s main roads, which continues northward.
Outgoing Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) said in response to the announcement that Israel's decision to enforce this break in military activities is "a first step".
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dramatic, and the population needs relief and assistance. An urgent and lasting ceasefire is needed," she wrote on social media.
The Israeli army's decision to implement a daily "tactical pause" to strengthen humanitarian aid in #Gaza is a first step.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dramatic, and the population needs relief and assistance. An urgent and lasting ceasefire is needed. — Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) June 16, 2024
Operations in Rafah continue
The decision was taken at a time when the international community's hopes for a ceasefire seem to be waning because of conflicting demands from Israel and Hamas. As a result, the plan announced by US President Joe Biden in late May seems unlikely to materialise.
However, the army stresses that the operation in Rafah will go ahead. The southern city is Hamas's last stronghold, according to Israel. The country is facing international criticism for its actions in Rafah because hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled there during the war. Many refugees have since left the city again.
The war between Israel and Hamas has raged for more than eight months. According to the UN, famine is looming in the Gaza Strip, where 75% of the 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced by the war.
Supplies of food and other relief items to Gaza have been limited since the war broke out. Shortages are particularly severe in the north. The United Nations World Food Programme warns that the situation in the south will soon be similar to that in the north. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), more than 50,000 children need treatment due to acute malnutrition.
