Israel’s military announced on Sunday that it would pause fighting during daytime hours along a route in southern Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries for Palestinians facing a crisis due to the ongoing war, now in its ninth month.
The “tactical pause,” covering approximately 7½ miles of road in the Rafah area, is not a full cease-fire as desired by the international community, including the United States. However, it aims to address the urgent needs of Palestinians affected by Israel’s presence in Rafah.
The army specified that the daily pause will start at 8 a.m. and last until 7 p.m. until further notice. The goal is to allow aid trucks to reach the Kerem Shalom crossing, controlled by Israel, and proceed safely to the Salah a-Din highway, a major road connecting north and south Gaza. Since Israeli troops entered Rafah in early May, the crossing has faced congestion.
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COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid distribution in Gaza, stated that this route would enhance aid flow to other parts of Gaza such as Khan Younis, Muwasi, and central Gaza. Northern Gaza, severely affected early in the war, is supplied through goods entering from the north.
The pause, coinciding with Muslims preparing for Eid Al-Adha, resulted from discussions with the United Nations and aid organizations. However, as per a U.N. spokesperson, no aid had been dispatched from Kerem Shalom yet. The U.N. hopes for more concrete actions from Israel, like smoother checkpoint operations and regular fuel entry.
Both Israel and Hamas are considering a recent cease-fire proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden. While Biden described it as an Israeli initiative, Hamas seeks changes unacceptable to Israel. With Prime Minister Netanyahu determined to continue the war and some in his government opposing the cease-fire, the military’s pause stirred political tensions.
Netanyahu reportedly found the plan “unacceptable” but didn’t cancel it. The military clarified that fighting in southern Gaza persists and the new route is strictly for humanitarian aid transport during daytime hours.
Despite the pause, violence continued with casualties reported. Israel revealed the names of 12 soldiers killed in recent attacks in Gaza, adding to the toll since the ground invasion last year. Hamas is accused of killing 1,200 and holding 250 hostage while the conflict has claimed over 37,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza.
