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Israel announces humanitarian pause in Gaza – emergency aid on its way in

Sunday, July 27


Israel announced on Sunday morning a temporary halt to military activity in several areas of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, it is reported that trucks carrying emergency aid are on their way.

Naima Abu Ful holder sitt underernærte 2 år gamle barn, Yazan, hjemme hos dem i Shati-flyktningleiren i Gaza by onsdag 23. juli.
Naima Abu Ful holds her malnourished 2-year-old child, Yazan, at their home in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on Wednesday, July 23. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi / AP / NTB

The humanitarian pause, which was announced on Saturday, is in effect until further notice and includes specific areas where the Israeli army (IDF) does not operate.

The IDF says there will be daily pauses in three areas starting Sunday. The areas include Gaza City in the north, Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and Al Mawasi in the south.

The breaks will last from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, the IDF said in a statement. It did not say how long the arrangement would be in effect.

Trucks from Egypt

According to the IDF, humanitarian corridors are also being established that can be used between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., so that food and medicine can be distributed.

On Sunday morning, trucks carrying relief supplies began heading towards Gaza from Egypt, the Egyptian-affiliated Al Qahera TV channel reported. In the morning, it was reported that the trucks had crossed the border at Rafah.

Palestinere bærer liket av en av dem som ifølge sykehuskilder ble skutt og drept av israelske soldater mens de ventet på nødhjelp ved Zikim-grenseovergangen nord i Gaza lørdag.
Palestinians carry the body of one of them who, according to hospital sources, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while waiting for emergency aid at the Zikim border crossing in northern Gaza on Saturday. Photo: AP / NTB

The attacks continue

At the same time, Palestinian health authorities reported that at least 38 Palestinians had been killed in new Israeli attacks on Sunday.

24 of them were killed while waiting for emergency aid, writes the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing a statement from Palestinian hospitals. Al Jazeera reports that the death toll has risen to 43.

The IDF has not commented on the incident, but has previously denied that they are shooting at Palestinian civilians waiting for emergency aid.

According to the UN, over 1,000 Palestinians have been shot and killed trying to access emergency aid in Gaza since May.

Israel's war against Hamas has claimed over 59,700 lives since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and have not been independently verified, but are considered credible by the UN and aid agencies. They also do not include thousands who are missing and feared to be in the rubble of bombed buildings.

Palestinere bærer sekker med mel losset fra en humanitær hjelpekonvoi som ankom Gaza by fra den nordlige Gazastripen lørdag 26. juli.
Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that arrived in Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, July 26. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi / AP / NTB

Criticized

On Saturday evening, according to Israel, emergency aid was also dropped from a plane in Gaza. The plane drop consisted of seven pallets of flour, sugar and canned goods, it was reported.

Several countries have offered to contribute aid via airdrops. Neighbouring Jordan has expressed a willingness to contribute, and the United Arab Emirates is also ready to send emergency aid immediately. The UK wants to assist through partners in the region.

However, dropping emergency aid from the air has been criticized as expensive, ineffective and dangerous, including by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa).

– It is a diversionary maneuver and a smokescreen, wrote Unrwa head Philippe Lazzarini on X Saturday.

According to him, man-made famine can only be solved through political will.

– Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe passage and dignified access for people in need.

Palestinere bærer sekker med mel losset fra en humanitær hjelpekonvoi som ankom Gaza by fra den nordlige Gazastripen lørdag 26. juli.
Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that arrived in Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, July 26. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi / AP / NTB

– No one goes hungry there

Israel has long been under international pressure to deliver emergency aid to Palestinian civilians, and several countries and aid organizations have warned of a famine in the Gaza Strip if this does not happen.

Israeli authorities have disputed this several times, most recently on Saturday.

“No one is starving there,” an IDF announcement said.

Almost one in three residents of Gaza has not eaten for several days, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement on Friday.

On Sunday afternoon, the WFP announced that they have emergency aid in or on the way that can feed the entire population of the Gaza Strip, and that 6,000 trucks are ready in Jordan and Egypt.

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