In the midst of a alarming increase in deaths from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army announced this Sunday a “tactical pause” of ten hours daily in its military activity in three areas of the enclave to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid “every day until further notice”.
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“According to the guidelines of the political leadership, and as part of the ongoing efforts of the Israel Defense Forces, led by the COGAT organization (the Israeli entity responsible for civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories), to increase the influx of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, a local tactical pause in military activity for humanitarian purposes will be implemented, from 10:00 to 20:00 hours, starting today (Sunday),” detailed the Army in a statement.
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Delivery points
The military force added that “safe routes” will be established between 06:00 and 23:00 hours to allow the transit of UN convoys and humanitarian organizations distributing food and medicine among the population of Gaza. “This decision was coordinated with the UN and other international organizations after discussions on the matter,” the statement added.
According to the Israeli Army, the ceasefire will be applied in areas where it currently does not maintain an active presence: the city of Gaza (in the northern part of the enclave), Deir al Balah (in the center), and Al Mawasi (in the south).
The decision comes a day after Israel announced the resumption of air drops of humanitarian aid over Gaza, where deaths from malnutrition have spiked in recent weeks. The total number of malnutrition-related deaths since the start of the Israeli offensive against the Strip on October 7, 2023, has risen to 127, with 85 of them being children, according to figures from the Health Department of Gaza, controlled by the Hamas terrorist group.