Israeli army announces daily ‘tactical pause’ in southern Gaza

By Anadolu staff

The Israeli army on Sunday said it would implement a daily “tactical pause” of military activity in the southern Gaza Strip to allow more aid into the Palestinian enclave.

"To increase the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza and following additional related discussions with the U.N. and international organizations, a local, tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes will take place from 08:00 until 19:00 every day until further notice," the army said in a statement.

The pause applies “along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road and then further north,” it added.

Besides killing more than 37,000 Palestinians, Israel’s eight-month military offensive and blockade in Gaza has plunged the territory into a humanitarian crisis, with international aid agencies reporting widespread hunger and hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of famine.

Israel is also accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi