JERUSALEM. Israel’s military announced on Sunday that it will halt daytime fighting along a route in southern Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians facing a crisis exacerbated by nearly nine months of war.
The “tactical pause” will apply to approximately 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) of road in the Rafah area. While this pause falls short of the complete ceasefire sought by the international community, including Israel’s top ally, the United States, it aims to address the critical needs of Palestinians, which have intensified following Israel’s incursion into Rafah.
The military stated that the pause will begin at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) and last until 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) daily until further notice. This measure is intended to allow aid trucks to reach the nearby Israel-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, the main entry point for aid, and safely travel to the Salah a-Din highway, a key north-south route. The crossing has experienced significant delays since Israeli ground troops entered Rafah in early May.
COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid distribution in Gaza, indicated that the route would enhance the flow of aid to other areas of Gaza, including Khan Younis, the coastal region of Muwasi, and central Gaza. Northern Gaza, heavily targeted earlier in the war, is receiving aid through a crossing in the north.
The pause, coinciding with the start of the Eid Al-Adha holiday in Gaza and other Muslim regions, follows discussions with the United Nations and international aid agencies. In response to criticism from ultranationalists in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, who oppose any halt in the war, the military clarified that fighting will not cease in other parts of southern Gaza, and there are no changes regarding the general entry of aid.
Aid agencies, including the U.N., have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Scott Anderson, the Gaza affairs director for the U.N. agency for Palestinians, expressed hope that the pause would “bring in much-needed aid for the population” during an interview with CNN.
This pause comes as Israel and Hamas consider the latest proposal for a ceasefire, detailed by President Joe Biden in a concentrated diplomatic effort to halt the fighting and secure the release of hostages held by the militant group. While Biden described the proposal as an Israeli initiative, Israel has not fully accepted it, and Hamas has made demands that appear unacceptable to Israel.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues, with Israel announcing the names of 11 soldiers killed in recent attacks in Gaza, including one who died from wounds sustained in an assault last week. This brings the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the ground invasion began last year to 308. Israeli authorities report that Hamas killed 1,200 people during its October 7 attack and took 250 hostages. Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza report over 37,000 Palestinian deaths in the war.
Israel’s eight-month offensive against Hamas, triggered by the militant group’s October 7 attack, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.N. reports widespread hunger and hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine. The international community has urged Israel to ease the humanitarian situation, noting that ongoing fighting in Rafah complicates aid deliveries.
The Rafah terminal between Gaza and Egypt remains closed since Israel’s incursion, increasing pressure on the region. Hamas’ supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, called for more pressure to open Gaza’s border crossings, including Rafah. Egypt has refused to reopen the crossing while Israel controls the Palestinian side.
From May 6 to June 6, the U.N. received an average of 68 aid trucks daily, down from 168 in April and far below the 500 trucks needed, according to the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA). The flow of aid declined as humanitarian needs grew, with over 1 million displaced Palestinians crowding into southern and central Gaza, living in makeshift camps with inadequate sanitation.
COGAT claims no restrictions on truck entries, stating that over 8,600 trucks of aid and commercial goods entered Gaza from May 2 to June 13, averaging 201 daily. However, much of this aid has stalled at crossings. COGAT spokesman Shimon Freedman blamed the U.N. for logistical issues, particularly a lack of trucks, causing aid to stack up at Kerem Shalom. The U.N. disputes these allegations, citing safety concerns and the need for Israeli military authorization for drivers as factors slowing deliveries.
The new arrangement aims to provide an 11-hour window each day for aid trucks to move in and out of the crossing, reducing the need for coordination. It remains unclear if the military will provide security for the aid trucks traveling along the highway.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
