Jerusalem: In a significant yet controversial step, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced a daily 10-hour suspension of military operations across specific zones in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to pass through more safely. The decision, effective immediately, applies to key corridors in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. These areas are designated for safe passage of food, medical supplies, and essentials, from 08:00 to 18:00 local time.
This announcement comes alongside the resumption of international aid airdrops, with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates conducting their first coordinated missions in months. According to military and diplomatic sources, nearly 25 tons of essential supplies were dropped by parachute into Gaza’s southern region on Saturday.
The move aims to ease the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over 2.2 million residents are now in desperate need of assistance. The United Nations welcomed the pause as a “positive gesture,” but emphasized that land-based aid corridors remain the most effective and sustainable means of reaching the civilian population.
Despite the creation of these corridors, the death toll from hunger, dehydration, and medical scarcity continues to rise. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that at least 133 people, including 87 children, have died due to complications linked to starvation and lack of medical care. Disturbingly, 17 more individuals were reportedly killed in stampedes and incidents while trying to access aid.
Mounting international criticism has pushed Israel to adopt a more visible humanitarian strategy. Countries like France, Canada, the UK, and others have accused Israel of weaponizing access to aid and called for unrestricted humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza. The United States has supported the airdrop initiative but urged Israel to guarantee the safety of ground convoys, which are more scalable.
However, within Israel, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from hardline political factions. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir denounced the pauses, calling them “a weakness in the face of international bullying.” He insisted that the military should not be restrained while Hamas militants remain operational.
While symbolic and urgently needed, experts caution that airdrops alone are insufficient. "They’re expensive, imprecise, and subject to dangerous interference, both from wind and looting on the ground," said a UN World Food Programme representative. “We need secure land access, full-scale convoys, and coordination with all parties on the ground.”
Despite the humanitarian pause, fighting continues in many parts of Gaza, especially in the north and around Rafah. Israeli forces maintain their objective of dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure, while Hamas continues to launch intermittent rocket attacks.
Ceasefire talks hosted in Doha, Qatar, involving mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have stalled over key issues such as hostage exchanges, withdrawal timelines, and political concessions. With over 58,000 reported casualties and millions displaced since the conflict reignited in late 2023, the window for a durable peace remains narrow.
For many civilians in Gaza, the daily pause represents a brief breath of relief but not a sustainable solution. Aid groups say that unless Israel allows unhindered truck convoys through key crossings like Kerem Shalom and Rafah, the situation could spiral into an even more dire famine and disease crisis.
Israel insists it is committed to humanitarian efforts but blames the UN’s “slow and inefficient logistics” for bottlenecks in aid delivery. The UN counters that without safe and predictable access routes, even the best logistics can’t function effectively.
As the conflict grinds on and suffering deepens, the international community watches anxiously hoping that this tactical pause might evolve into a strategic turning point toward peace and lasting humanitarian access in one of the world’s most volatile regions.