Israel announces humanitarian pause in Gaza after international pressure
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Israeli soldiers guard humanitarian aid in Kerem Shalom, Gaza Strip. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it would implement a humanitarian pause in several population centers across the Gaza Strip beginning Sunday morning and repeating each day until further notice.
- On Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force conducted air drops of food into Gaza. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates began air drops on Sunday, with more expected in the coming days.
Why it matters: The pause is part of a broader set of measures approved Saturday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to mounting international criticism over the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- It marks the first time Israel has paused military operations in Gaza since March, when it unilaterally resumed the war and halted the delivery of humanitarian aid.
State of play: The IDF said in a statement that a "local tactical pause" of military activity will begin from 10am local time to 8pm.
- "The pause will take place in areas where the IDF is not operating — Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City — every day until further notice," the IDF said.
- During these pauses, the IDF will allow safe access for the UN and other aid organizations to reach population centers.
What they're saying: "The IDF is prepared for humanitarian pauses in areas where there are population concentrations and will continue to operate against terrorists in operational areas at the same time," the IDF said Saturday.
- The IDF also announced that Israel has reconnected a power line to operate Gaza's southern desalination plant.
- The move is expected to increase water output from 2,000 to 20,000 cubic meters per day — enough to serve roughly 900,000 residents.
Between the lines: The UN World Food Programme praised Israel's announcement and said it has "enough food in — or on its way to — the region to feed the entire population of 2.1 million people for almost three months."
- "Food aid is the only real way for most people inside Gaza to eat. A third of the population is not eating for days. Some 470,000 people are enduring famine-like conditions. 90,000 women and children need urgent nutrition treatment," the WFP warned.
Driving the news: The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said Friday nine more people had died of starvation-related complications over the previous 24 hours.
- The ministry said 122 Palestinians have died in recent days of similar symptoms, including 83 children.
- Israel has denied that starvation is occurring in Gaza, calling it Hamas propaganda. But an Israeli official admitted that the humanitarian situation is dire.
The leaders of the U.K., Germany and France held an "emergency" phone call on Friday to discuss the crisis, issuing a joint statement that called for "all parties to bring an end to the conflict by reaching an immediate ceasefire."
- They described the situation as a "humanitarian catastrophe" that "must end now," and urged Israel to lift restrictions on the flow of aid and allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to operate freely to combat starvation.
- "Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law," the leaders stressed.
Behind the scenes: Amid the mounting international pressure, Netanyahu held a meeting on Friday to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar urged immediate steps to address the crisis — including a humanitarian pause — but Defense Minister Israel Katz objected, and the meeting ended without a decision.
- On Saturday night, Netanyahu convened another conference call with Sa'ar, Katz and other senior ministers. This time, Katz dropped his opposition, and the decision was made to implement the pause starting Sunday morning.
The intrigue: Netanyahu did not invite far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir — both vocal opponents of humanitarian pauses — and only informed them after the decision had been finalized.
