Israel’s military said on Sunday it will suspend operations daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (0700-1700 GMT) in three areas of Gaza—Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City—to ease the flow of humanitarian relief after months of mounting international pressure over worsening hunger.
The army also outlined permanent “secure routes” for aid convoys carrying food and medicine from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. It said ground incursions had not resumed in those zones since March, when it reignited its Gaza campaign.
Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News reported aid began moving from Egypt toward the enclave on Sunday. Earlier, Israel conducted airdrops it said were meant to alleviate dire conditions.
The United Nations last week urged formal pauses to scale up assistance, arguing Israel had not provided sufficient alternative routes for convoys. Aid groups say Gaza’s 2.2 million residents face widespread hunger after Israel cut supplies in March, partially reopening them in May under tighter limits.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says 127 people, including 85 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began. Israel denies famine conditions and says restrictions are meant to pressure Hamas to release hostages. It accuses the U.N. of poor distribution; the U.N. says Israeli controls impede its work.
The conflict erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and seized 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza health officials say nearly 60,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israel’s offensive, which has devastated the strip and displaced almost the entire population.