Israel’s military announced on Sunday that there will be a pause in fighting during the daytime hours along a specific route in southern Gaza. This pause is intended to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians who are in desperate need due to the ongoing war, now in its ninth month.
This “tactical pause” covers about 7½ miles of road in the Rafah area. It falls short of a complete cease-fire that the international community, including the United States, has been calling for. However, it could help address the urgent needs of Palestinians who have been significantly affected by Israel’s recent activities in Rafah.
The army specified that the pause will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice. Its purpose is to allow aid trucks to reach the Kerem Shalom crossing, controlled by Israel, and safely travel to the Salah a-Din highway, a major north-south road in the region. The crossing has been experiencing a bottleneck since Israeli troops entered Rafah in May.
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COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid distribution in Gaza, stated that this route will enhance aid flow to other parts of Gaza, including Khan Younis, Muwasi, and central Gaza. The pause coincides with the start of the Eid Al-Adha holiday and came after consultations with the United Nations and other aid organizations.
Although Israel’s announcement was welcomed by the U.N., no aid had been dispatched from Kerem Shalom on the day of the pause. The U.N. hopes for further concrete measures from Israel to facilitate aid operations.
Both Israel and Hamas are considering the latest cease-fire proposal put forth by U.S. President Joe Biden. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown reluctance towards the proposal, and the military’s announcement of a pause has stirred controversy within the Israeli government.
Despite some resistance from Netanyahu, the new arrangement allowing for humanitarian aid transport during the day remains in place. The fighting persists, with casualties reported in central Gaza, underscoring the dire situation in the region.
Israel also announced the names of soldiers killed in recent attacks in Gaza, bringing the total number of casualties since the start of the ground invasion to 309. Hamas has claimed responsibility for numerous casualties in the conflict as well.