Israel to halt fighting in 3 Gaza zones as outrage over food crisis in region grows
According to the military, operations will be paused from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm local time in these areas, starting Sunday and continuing until further notice.
While the military claims it is not actively operating in these zones, recent weeks have seen strikes and clashes there.
The Associated Press report added that the Israeli military also plans to set up secure routes to help aid agencies deliver food and supplies across Gaza.
The decision to pause fighting in certain areas follows months of warnings from experts about looming famine, worsened by Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid.
Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in the past few weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, while 127 people have died due to malnutrition, including 85 children, since the start of the war, which began nearly two years ago.
On Wednesday, more than 100 aid agencies warned that mass starvation was spreading across the enclave.
The military also said Saturday that it had connected a power line to a desalination plant, expected to supply daily water needs for about 900,000 Gazans
Israel announces return of Gaza aid airdrops amid rising pressure
International criticism over Gaza's humanitarian crisis has intensified in recent weeks – even from Israel's close allies – following the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians attempting to access food distribution points.
In response, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that it would resume airdrops of aid into Gaza to address the deepening hunger crisis. According to a military spokesperson cited by Reuters, several steps have been taken to ease the humanitarian situation amid mounting global pressure.
The airdrops will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food, to be provided by international organisations. Palestinian sources confirmed that airdrops had begun in northern Gaza.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it would also implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas and establish designated corridors to allow the safe movement of UN convoys delivering aid.
While these humanitarian efforts are set to continue, the military said that they would take place alongside ongoing operations targeting Hamas and other militant factions.
The UN has warned that mass hunger has reached Gaza's 2.2 million residents, with food stocks rapidly depleting following an Israeli supply cutoff in March. Although Israel reopened crossings in May, new restrictions remain in place.
Israel, however, maintains that it has allowed sufficient food into Gaza and blames distribution failures on the UN.
'The IDF emphasises that there is no starvation in the Gaza Strip; this is a false campaign promoted by Hamas,' the military said. "Responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza lies with the UN and international aid organisations.
Therefore, the UN and international organisations are expected to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas."
The UN, in a separate statement on Thursday, said 'the humanitarian pauses would allow the scale up of humanitarian assistance' but noted that Israel had not provided adequate alternate routes, hampering the movement of aid convoys.
(With inputs from Associated Press, Reuters)
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Economic Times
6 hours ago
- Economic Times
Israeli forces kills 27 aid-seekers in Gaza as Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site
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Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts have warned is facing famine because of Israel's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Yousef Abed, among the crowds en route to a distribution point, described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. "I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets," he said. Southern Gaza's Nasser Hospital said they received bodies from routes to the sites, including eight from Teina, about three kilometers (1.8 miles) away from a distribution site in Khan Younis, which is operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the private U.S.- and Israeli-backed contractor that took over aid distribution more than two months ago. The hospital received one body from Shakoush, hundreds of meters (yards) north of a GHF site in Rafah. Another nine aid-seekers were killed by troops near the Morag corridor, it said. Three Palestinian eyewitnesses, seeking food in Teina and Morag, told The Associated Press shootings occurred on the routes to distribution points, which are in military zones secured by Israeli forces. They said they saw soldiers open fire on hungry crowds advancing toward troops. Further north in central Gaza, hospital officials described a similar episode, with Israeli troops opening fire Sunday morning toward crowds of Palestinians trying to reach GHF's fourth and northernmost distribution point. "Troops were trying to prevent people from advancing. They opened fire and we fled. Some people were shot," said Hamza Matter, one of the aid seekers. At least five people were killed and 27 wounded near GHF's site close to Netzarim corridor, Awda Hospital said. Eyewitnesses seeking food have reported similar gunfire attacks in recent days near aid distribution sites, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead. 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It said Sunday's casualties brought the death toll among Palestinian adults to 82 over the five weeks since the ministry started counting deaths among adults in late June. Malnutrition-related deaths are not included in the ministry's count of war casualties. Ninety-three children have also died of causes related to malnutrition since the war in Gaza started in 2023, the ministry said. Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, a move swiftly condemned as a incitement by Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan and Saudi Arabia. At the hilltop compound in the Old City revered by Jews and Muslims, Ben Gvir called on Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave. "This is the only way that we will return the hostages and win the war," he said. His visit on Sunday in honor of Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of two Jewish temples at the site, was the first in which a government minister openly prayed at the site. Under the status quo, Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said afterward that Israel would not change the norms governing the holy site. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned Ben Gvir's visit. Ambassador Sufian Qudah, a spokesperson for Jordan's Foreign Ministry, condemned what he called "provocative incursions by the extremist minister" and implored Israel to prevent escalation. Ben Gvir's visit took place on Tisha B'av, a day in which Jews mourn the destruction of their temples. He condemned a video that Hamas released of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David showing him emaciated in a dimly lit tunnel in Gaza. 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Israel's military did not immediately respond to questions about either strike. The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, and abducting another 251. They are still holding 50 captives, around 20 believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed more than 60,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, is staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and other independent experts view its figures as the most reliable count of casualties. Israel has disputed its figures, but hasn't provided its own account of casualties.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Israeli forces kills 27 aid-seekers in Gaza as Israeli minister prays at flashpoint holy site
Israeli forces killed at least 23 Palestinians seeking food on Sunday in Gaza , according to hospital officials and witnesses, who described facing gunfire as hungry crowds surged around aid sites, as the malnutrition-related death toll also rose. Desperation has gripped the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts have warned is facing famine because of Israel 's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category healthcare Healthcare Others Operations Management CXO Management MBA Project Management MCA Digital Marketing Data Analytics Finance PGDM Technology Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking Leadership Public Policy Data Science others Data Science Degree Product Management Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details Yousef Abed, among the crowds en route to a distribution point, described coming under what he called indiscriminate fire, seeing at least three people bleeding on the ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More Undo "I couldn't stop and help them because of the bullets," he said. 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Business Standard
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- Business Standard
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