The Israeli military announced a “tactical pause” in its southern Gaza operations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, effective daily from 8 am to 7 pm local time. This measure is aimed at allowing aid trucks to access the Israel-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing and travel safely on the Salah a-Din highway to distribute supplies across Gaza. The pause is coordinated with the UN and international aid agencies.

Since early May, the Israeli offensive against Hamas has severely impacted Gaza, leading to significant humanitarian needs. The UN reports widespread hunger, with hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine. Despite the flow of some aid, logistics and security issues have hindered effective distribution, often leaving aid stacked at crossings. Cogat, the Israeli military body managing aid, claims no restrictions on entry, but aid agencies argue that fighting and logistical challenges impede delivery.

The new pause aims to provide an uninterrupted window for aid movement, though it remains unclear if security will be provided for these aid trucks.