The Israeli military Sunday (July 27, 2025) began limited pauses in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of measures including airdrops as concerns grow over surging hunger and as Israel faces criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war.
The military said the “tactical pause” from 10 am to 8 pm in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, all with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory.
United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher welcomed Israel's decision to support a “one-week scale-up of aid" and said “some movement restrictions appear to have been eased." But he said action needs to be sustained, vast and fast.
“Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Images of emaciated children have fanned criticism of Israel, including by allies who call for the war's end. Israel has restricted aid to Gaza's population of over 2 million because it says Hamas siphons it off to bolster its rule, without providing evidence. Much of the population, squeezed into ever-smaller patches of land, now relies on aid.
