Faith Nyasuguta
Israel has begun enforcing daily military pauses in parts of Gaza to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian movement, as international criticism mounts over the dire hunger crisis. The Israeli military confirmed that from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, fighting would be paused in areas including Deir al-Balah, Gaza City, and al-Mawasi, allowing aid convoys to reach starving civilians.
The move comes after weeks of global outcry, with aid agencies, UN officials, and several Western governments warning that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has spiraled into a full-blown famine. The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) reports that over one-third of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have gone days without food, while nearly half a million people face famine-like conditions.
Over 90,000 women and children are believed to be suffering from acute malnutrition, with hospitals reporting overwhelming cases of starving infants and pregnant women. Despite the temporary aid corridors, human rights groups and UN officials remain skeptical that the pauses will be enough to stop the spiraling death toll.
“People are starving to death in front of our eyes,” said UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, calling the situation “a dystopian nightmare.” He revealed that since late May, more than 1,000 people have died trying to access food, with some killed in stampedes and others shot near aid trucks. Türk also condemned the deaths of over 300 UN staff due to Israeli airstrikes, calling it one of the deadliest conflicts for humanitarian workers in recent memory.
Air Drops and Limited Convoys
Alongside the military pause, air drops of aid supplies have resumed. Countries like Jordan, the UAE, and the US have dropped essential goods including flour, sugar, and canned food into areas cut off by fighting. On the ground, the Israeli military says it has authorized convoys to move through designated corridors between 6 am and 11 p.m., though only a small number of trucks have made it through.
On the first day of the pause, around 120 truckloads of food entered Gaza, according to aid groups. However, this is still far below the minimum 500 truckloads per day that humanitarian agencies say are needed to meet basic needs.
International Pressure Mounts
Governments including the UK, France, Australia, and Norway have issued strong statements demanding a comprehensive ceasefire to enable sustained humanitarian access. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the resumed aid as “a drop in the ocean.”
“The crisis cannot be addressed with symbolic airdrops or token pauses. Gaza’s population needs sustained aid, open crossings, and above all, peace,” Fletcher said.
Palestinian Frustration and Skepticism
Many Palestinians remain deeply skeptical of Israel’s announcement. Some have dismissed the daily pauses as a PR exercise meant to ease international pressure without meaningfully addressing the crisis.
“It’s not enough,” said Ahmed Saleh, a father of five in central Gaza. “How can a few trucks feed two million people? My children are eating boiled leaves. This is not living.”
Several aid distribution points have been attacked even during the supposed pause, raising concerns about safety and access. In one incident, dozens were injured as crowds scrambled for food before shots rang out near a convoy.
Israeli Government Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded defiantly to international criticism, accusing UN officials of spreading “excuses and lies.” He insisted Israel was allowing humanitarian access and that the real barrier to peace was Hamas, which continues to fire rockets and operate from civilian areas.
“Israel is doing its part. We are providing secure corridors and cooperating with aid agencies,” Netanyahu said during a televised address. “But our first responsibility is to eliminate the terror threat.”
A Crisis Far from Over
Despite the temporary military pauses, the situation on the ground remains catastrophic. The Gaza health system is on the verge of collapse, water infrastructure has been destroyed, and large parts of the territory remain without power. The agricultural sector, once a lifeline, has been decimated by the ongoing bombardment and displacement.
Aid workers say a true reversal of the crisis will require not just pauses, but a full ceasefire, massive aid delivery, and rebuilding critical infrastructure.
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