Gaza Pauses Aid Routes Amid Stark Hunger Crisis

Israel announces daily 10-hour halts in military operations to facilitate aid delivery.

Israel has declared daily humanitarian pauses to military operations in specific Gaza areas, aiming to significantly increase the flow of essential aid. The move comes as global alarm intensifies over widespread starvation among the enclave’s 2.1 million residents, with harrowing images of emaciated children circulating worldwide.

New Corridors and Air Drops

Starting Sunday, military activity will cease from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time in al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Additionally, secure routes for food and medicine convoys will be operational daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates conducted their first airdrop in months, delivering 25 tons of aid, though officials stressed this is no substitute for land-based deliveries.

The UN World Food Program has for weeks warned of critical food insecurity across Gaza, with numerous aid organizations reporting a rapid spread of starvation. “Our teams on the ground … will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window,” stated UN aid chief Tom Fletcher via X.

Scores of aid groups say starvation is fast spreading in Gaza.

The UN World Food Programme has warned for weeks that the entire population of 2.1 million people in Gaza faces crisis levels of food insecurity.

— The Irish Times (@thetimes) July 28, 2025

International Pressure Mounts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz conveyed “deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza” during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging further steps. This announcement follows weeks of mounting international criticism of Israel’s handling of the humanitarian crisis, fueled by disturbing images of malnutrition.

The Gaza ministry of health reported six new deaths due to malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total attributed to hunger to 133, including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Ceasefire Talks Stall

Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to have reached an impasse, with both Israel and the US citing Hamas’s unwillingness to reach a deal. French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced France’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September, reflecting increasing international divergence on the conflict’s resolution.

The Egyptian Red Crescent is dispatching over 100 trucks, carrying approximately 1,200 metric tons of food aid, to southern Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing. Many Gazans expressed cautious optimism, hoping the aid increase signals a path toward ending the prolonged conflict. However, concerns remain about the safety and efficiency of aid distribution, with some displaced residents like Suhaib Mohammed noting potential risks from airdrops.

Internal Disagreements Surface

Israeli Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the aid initiative, calling it a “capitulation to Hamas’ deceitful campaign” and reiterating his stance for a complete aid blockade. A spokesperson for Binyamin Netanyahu did not immediately comment on Ben-Gvir‘s remarks.

The conflict, which began on October 7th, 2023, has resulted in a dire humanitarian situation, with Gaza health officials reporting nearly 60,000 deaths since Israel’s offensive began. The United Nations previously stated that Israel’s restrictions hindered aid access, a claim Israel disputes, asserting its commitment to facilitating aid while preventing diversion by militants.