DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military on Sunday began limited pauses in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of measures including airdrops as concerns grow over surging hunger and as Israel faces criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war.
The military said the “tactical pause” in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, all with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory. The 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. pause is daily until further notice.
“Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
As the military had warned, combat operations continued otherwise. Health officials in Gaza said Israeli strikes killed at least 41 Palestinians from late Saturday into Sunday, including 26 seeking aid.
Images of emaciated children have fanned criticism of Israel, including by allies, who call for the war’s end. Israel has restricted aid to Gaza’s population of over 2 million because it says Hamas siphons it off to bolster its rule, without providing evidence. Much of the population, squeezed into ever-smaller patches of land, now relies on aid.
“I came to get flour for my children because they have not tasted flour for more than a week, and thank God, God provided me with a kilo of rice with difficulty,” said Sabreen Hassona, as other Palestinians trudged along a dusty road carrying sacks of food.
Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Abdel Kareem Hana) via AP
‘Every delay is measured by another funeral’
Israel’s military said 28 aid packages containing food were airdropped Sunday, and said it would put in place secure routes for aid delivery. It said the steps were made in coordination with the United Nations and other humanitarian groups.
The U.N. World Food Program said it had enough food in, or on its way, to feed all of Gaza for nearly three months. It has said a third of Gaza’s population were not eating for days and nearly half a million people were enduring famine-like conditions.
Antoine Renard, WFP’s country director for the occupied Palestinian territories, said around 80 WFP trucks entered Gaza, while more than another 130 trucks arrived via Jordan, Ashdod and Egypt and other aid was moving through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings.
He stressed it was not enough to counter the “current starvation.”
Gaza saw 63 malnutrition-related deaths in July, including 24 children under 5, the World Health Organization said.
Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, Gaza’s Health Ministry director-general, called for a flood of medical supplies to help treat child malnutrition.
“This (humanitarian) truce will mean nothing if it doesn’t turn into a real opportunity to save lives,” he said. “Every delay is measured by another funeral.”
Trucks carrying humanitarian aids enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, » …