Israel Says It Has Paused Some Military Activity in Gaza as Anger Grows Over Hunger – The New York
In response to rising international pressure, Israel has started a daily 10-hour pause in its military operations across parts of Gaza to allow urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach civilians. The pause began on Sunday, July 27, and will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Mawasi—a coastal area where many Palestinians have been told to seek shelter.
On the first day of the pause, a limited amount of aid made it into Gaza, including food and baby formula, although much more is needed.
Hunger Crisis Worsens in Gaza
Conditions in Gaza have become increasingly dire. The World Health Organization has warned that the region is on the brink of mass starvation. Cindy McCain, head of the U.N. World Food Programme, recently described the hunger crisis as reaching “new and astonishing levels of desperation.”
One heartbreaking example is 18-month-old Mohammad Al-Motawaq, whose frail body—skin stretched over bone and a swollen belly—has come to symbolize the humanitarian crisis. Since the war began in October 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry says 133 Palestinians have died from hunger, including 87 children.
Israel Pushes Back on Accusations
Israel has rejected claims that people in Gaza are starving, calling it “a false campaign promoted by Hamas.” On Sunday, Israeli military officials brought journalists to the Kerem Shalom border crossing to show stockpiles of aid—including flour, pasta, bottled water, and baby formula—waiting to be delivered.
Israeli spokesperson Elon Levy placed the blame on the United Nations, saying, “The aid is here in Israel. Hundreds of pallets are just sitting in the sun while the U.N. fails to distribute them. And instead of owning that failure, they’re blaming Israel.”
Despite the pause, the situation remains extremely fragile. Aid groups continue to call for more consistent and unrestricted access to food, medicine, and clean water for the millions affected.
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