Israel Announces Daily Tactical Pause in Parts of Gaza to Facilitate Humanitarian Aid

Jerusalem: In a bid to alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced a daily tactical pause in military activity in select areas, starting Sunday.

The pause will take place between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. local time each day, and will apply to regions not currently engaged in active ground operations, including Deir al-Balah, al-Mawasi, and Gaza City, according to The Times of Israel.

The Israeli military stated that the move was made under directives from the political leadership and is part of broader efforts, led by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), to scale up humanitarian aid into the embattled territory.

“This humanitarian window is designed to facilitate the safe delivery and distribution of critical supplies like food and medicine,” the IDF noted. The decision was made in coordination with the United Nations and other international aid organizations, following consultations over worsening conditions on the ground.

To support aid operations further, the IDF announced the establishment of “secure corridors” from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, allowing safe passage for UN and humanitarian convoys operating within Gaza.

Despite the tactical pause, the Israeli military emphasized that combat operations against terrorist organizations will continue in other parts of the Gaza Strip. “Our goal remains the protection of Israeli civilians while facilitating humanitarian relief,” the IDF said. “We are prepared to expand these measures if necessary.”

The announcement comes amid rising alarm from the global humanitarian community. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday described conditions in Gaza as “catastrophic,” warning that infrastructure and essential services are on the verge of collapse.

“Life is being drained out of Gaza,” the UN agency said, adding that starvation is spreading rapidly as conflict continues to disrupt aid access.

While the daily pause has been welcomed as a step toward enabling humanitarian efforts, aid organizations stress that broader and sustained access will be essential to prevent further deterioration of conditions for civilians in Gaza.