Israel’s military on Wednesday announced a return of a daily “tactical pause” in its operations. This pause allows for the establishment of humanitarian aid corridors that would provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. This announcement arrives in the wake of an increasing humanitarian catastrophe in the region with malnutrition-related fatalities now being documented. These tactical pauses mostly cover hotspots such as Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and sections of Gaza City. These sometimes tenuous pauses are meant to allow humanitarian aid deliveries, but meanwhile, Israel is adamantly claiming to be operating in self-defense under international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken the fight against the United Nations on to the offensive. He claims the UN group is creating “an alibi and a falsehood” regarding humanitarian corridors in Gaza. In face of these claims, the status quo of humanitarian assistance is a point of contention and has grown more urgent. The World Health Organization announced last week at least 63 malnutrition-related deaths in Gaza this month. At the same time, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that 14 others have died in the last 24 hours from hunger and malnutrition.
Israel’s relentless, continuous blockade of food and other supplies has exacerbated the starvation crisis in Gaza on a catastrophic level. For this reason, today’s population still endures the scourge of extensive malnutrition. In fact, as states within the UN agency have reported, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) frequently deny or delay these coordinated movements. These movements are critical lifelines in delivering much needed assistance. As of this writing, designated “secure routes” for foreign assistance delivery are open, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time.
On Sunday, over 100 trucks crossed into Gaza, bringing desperately needed humanitarian assistance. This was a huge step needed to begin correcting the disturbing reality developing on the ground. The Israeli military further stated that they will implement daily pauses in fighting. This action will extend continued humanitarian assistance through at least March 31, 2024.
In a parallel move U.S. President Donald Trump just committed. The US should quadruple its Gaza-based humanitarian assistance. An internal U.S. government review, completed earlier this year, found no evidence that Hamas engaged in systematic theft of American-funded humanitarian assistance in the area. This commitment is made with the full acknowledgment of those findings.
Israel has designated some tactical pause zones in areas marked by humanitarian organizations as safe. These opportunity zones target areas where there is the greatest need for help. The complexities surrounding the delivery of aid reflect broader tensions in the region, as both sides navigate the challenging landscape of military operations and humanitarian obligations.
