JERUSALEM/GAZA, July 27 – In response to mounting international concern over severe hunger and malnutrition in Gaza, the Israeli military has declared daily pauses in combat operations across specific areas of the enclave. These halts are intended to allow life-saving humanitarian aid to reach starving civilians, many of whom have endured months of limited access to food and medical supplies.
According to Israeli military officials, operations will cease daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian zone along the coast, as well as in central Deir al-Balah and northern Gaza City. These areas have been identified as focal points for humanitarian relief efforts, where aid groups can operate with reduced risk.
Additionally, secure corridors will be established to enable convoys transporting essential goods—such as food and medicine—to move safely through the region between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. These new measures come as part of a broader strategy to expand aid access to a population that has been pushed to the brink of famine.
Rising Death Toll from Malnutrition
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with dozens of reported deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in recent weeks. Gaza health authorities stated that since the onset of the conflict, at least 127 people, including 85 children, have died as a result of inadequate nutrition.
The tragedy was underscored by the recent death of a five-month-old girl, Zainab Abu Haleeb, who succumbed to acute malnutrition after spending three months under hospital care in Khan Younis. Her grieving parents stood heartbroken as they held her small, shrouded body, symbolizing the toll this crisis is taking on innocent lives.
In light of these growing casualties, humanitarian workers have vowed to intensify efforts to reach those in need. A senior United Nations official emphasized that relief teams are mobilized and ready to operate within the safe zones during the ceasefires, aiming to deliver aid swiftly to as many affected individuals as possible.
The need is urgent. Aid groups have reported mass hunger sweeping through Gaza’s population of 2.2 million. Families are struggling to find basic sustenance, with children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses being the most vulnerable.
Convoys and Airdrops Begin Amid Warnings
In addition to opening land routes, more than 100 trucks carrying over 1,200 metric tons of food were dispatched on Sunday by the Egyptian Red Crescent via the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza. These convoys are a part of a renewed push to flood the area with desperately needed supplies.
Israel also launched a series of humanitarian airdrops earlier the same day, claiming the initiative was designed to provide emergency relief to civilians cut off from aid due to infrastructure destruction and ongoing hostilities. However, some residents expressed concern about the safety and effectiveness of airdrops, citing previous incidents where packages caused injuries or fell into areas inaccessible to the public.
Displaced Gazan Suhaib Mohammed questioned the logic behind air-delivered aid, stating that ground-based distribution would be more efficient and safer for recipients. “People get hurt when aid is thrown from planes. We need organized distribution, not chaos,” he said.
Meanwhile, some Israeli officials have voiced opposition to the increased aid flow. The National Security Minister sharply criticized the decision, calling it a strategic error that empowers the opposing forces and weakens Israel’s stance. He argued that such concessions were made without proper consultation and renewed his call for tougher policies, including a full military takeover of Gaza and the removal of its population.
Despite the political friction, the Israeli leadership has not publicly responded to these criticisms. The government maintains that while it remains committed to combating militant threats, it also recognizes the necessity of humanitarian aid and claims it has allowed ample food into Gaza throughout the conflict.
Nevertheless, international observers and relief agencies argue that access routes remain limited, making it nearly impossible for supplies to reach those most in need. They have consistently called for the establishment of consistent, reliable corridors for humanitarian convoys and expressed skepticism over claims that aid delivery is being obstructed solely by mismanagement on the part of relief organizations.
The current escalation stems from the conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, when fighters from the Gaza Strip crossed into southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and capturing hundreds more. In retaliation, Israel launched a prolonged military campaign that has so far killed close to 60,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, with the majority being civilians. The war has devastated neighborhoods, destroyed infrastructure, and left nearly all of Gaza’s population displaced.
With ceasefire talks at a standstill, Sunday’s announcement of daily pauses offers a sliver of hope to exhausted civilians. Business owner Tamer Al-Burai expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We’re relieved that aid will finally be able to enter, but what we truly want is a lasting end to this war.”