GAZA/JERUSALEM:
Israel announced on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours daily in specific parts of Gaza and allow the opening of additional aid corridors, following intense international pressure over the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Palestinian enclave. The announcement came as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates conducted a rare airdrop of 25 tons of humanitarian aid — their first in months — amid haunting images of starving civilians, including children, that have shaken global conscience.
The daily pause, effective from 10am to 8pm local time (12pm to 10pm Pakistan Standard Time), will apply to Al-Mawasi — a designated humanitarian zone along the coast — as well as parts of central Deir al-Balah and northern Gaza City. The Israeli military also confirmed the establishment of secure corridors for the delivery of food and medical supplies from 6am to 11pm daily.
The temporary halt follows mounting international pressure and behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia played key roles in urging Israel, through multilateral channels and diplomatic backdoors, to allow unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. All three countries had intensified calls at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations, demanding an immediate ceasefire and emergency relief access. Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN recently stressed the urgent need to lift the blockade and accused Israel of committing “crimes against humanity.”
Türkiye, which has been actively involved in delivering aid through its humanitarian organizations such as IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation) and AFAD, welcomed the pause but called it “insufficient,” urging Israel to implement a full ceasefire and allow continuous aid flow. President Erdoğan’s office also confirmed coordination with Egypt and Qatar for potential medical evacuations of critically ill patients.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, intensified its diplomatic outreach to the U.S. and European powers, warning that continued Israeli aggression could destabilize the entire region. Riyadh, through KSRelief, pledged additional food convoys and announced funding for field hospitals in southern Gaza.
Despite these efforts, global concerns remain acute. Amnesty International has labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” — a charge the Israeli government strongly denies. Ceasefire talks mediated in Doha between Israel and Hamas have reportedly broken down, and no agreement appears imminent.
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Following a complete blockade imposed on March 2, Israel began allowing limited aid into Gaza in late May under growing international criticism. Yet humanitarian groups continue to warn of mass starvation and systemic collapse.
A Jordanian official clarified that while the latest airdrop was essential, it is not a viable alternative to sustained aid via land routes. Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy added that Israel’s pause “alone cannot meet the desperate humanitarian needs in Gaza.”
The situation on the ground remains volatile. Palestinian health officials reported that at least 10 people were injured after being struck by falling aid boxes during the airdrop. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said his teams would maximize the use of the pause to deliver life-saving food and medical assistance. “We will do all we can to reach as many starving people as possible in this limited window,” he posted on X.
However, deadly incidents persist. At least 17 Palestinians were killed and over 50 wounded while waiting for aid in the central Gaza Strip, according to doctors at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals. Israel has not yet commented on the incident.
Meanwhile, the death toll from malnutrition continues to rise. Gaza’s health ministry reported six additional deaths due to hunger in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 133 — including 87 children. Among the most recent victims was five-month-old Zainab Abu Haleeb, who died from acute malnutrition after spending three months hospitalized in Khan Younis. “Three months inside the hospital, and this is what I get — that she is dead,” her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, said, as the child’s father cradled her body wrapped in a white cloth.