GAZA CITY: Israel’s military on Friday said it was suspending mid-day pauses to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, calling it a “a dangerous combat zone.” The city was among the places that Israel paused fighting last month to allow food and aid supplies to enter from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The “tactical pauses” lasted applied to Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Muwasi, three places where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering. The pivot comes as Israel prepares to broaden its offensive, mobilizing tens of thousands of troops to seize Gaza City.

The move comes a week after the world’s leading food authority declared Gaza City was in the grips of famine.

Starting today, the local tactical pause in military activity will not apply to the area of Gaza City, which constitutes a dangerous combat zone,' the military said in a statement.