The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it would halt fighting for the day along a route in southern Gaza so that humanitarian aid could pass through and be delivered to Palestinians in need.
The “tactical pause” will apply to about 11 kilometers of road near Rafah, the southern Gaza city where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering. The Israeli army said the break would begin at 8am, last until 7pm and run daily until further notice. The Associated Press reported.
The pause is intended to allow aid trucks to reach the Kerem Shalom crossing, the border of Gaza, Egypt and Israel, and is the main entry point for aid.
The Israeli military body that oversees aid distribution in Gaza, COGAT, said the 12-kilometer route would increase the flow of aid to other parts of Gaza, including Khan Younis, the coastal area of Muwasi and central Gaza, the report said. AP.
The northern part of Gaza, which was decimated in the first fighting after the October 7 attack, is receiving aid from the north.
The Israeli military said the decision to halt daytime fighting came after discussions with the United Nations and other international aid agencies that have increasingly warned of famine and a humanitarian crisis.
Although the fighting will stop in that corridor, the conflict will continue in other parts of southern Gaza and there will be no changes to the entry of aid elsewhere in the Strip.
The daytime break is intended to allow trucks to enter and exit the crossing and lessen the possibility of aid trucks being looted by hungry Palestinians.
Jens Laerke, UN humanitarian spokesman, told the AP the announcement was welcome, but no aid was sent today. The UN expects more concrete measures from Israel, such as the regular entry of fuel, Laerke said.
In late May, President Biden announced the terms of an Israeli-led proposal that includes a three-part plan to end the fighting and free hostages remaining in Hamas captivity. Biden said the plan was drawn up by Israel, but the allied country said it has not yet been fully adopted.
Israel and Hamas are considering the latest proposal, but the Palestinian militant group has made demands that Israel finds unacceptable.
The pause in fighting also follows news of four Israeli hostages being rescued from Hamas. While Israel conducted the recovery mission, its military killed more than 200 Palestinians.
The Associated Press contributed.
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