Israel Announces Daily 10-Hour Military Pause in Three Gaza Areas Amid Global Pressure

Gaza: In response to intensifying global scrutiny over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israel has declared a daily suspension of military activity in select regions. The Israeli military also claimed to have initiated the delivery of humanitarian aid via air and land routes.

According to Reuters, the Israeli army stated it would temporarily cease military activities every day in three designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. The pause will be observed from 10 AM to 8 PM local time (12 PM to 10 PM Pakistan Standard Time) until further notice.

As part of our ongoing effort to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip and In accordance with directives from the political echelon, a local tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00, starting today… pic.twitter.com/z9y4aO3tku

— COGAT (@cogatonline) July 27, 2025

The army further clarified that specific humanitarian corridors in these areas would remain open from 6 AM to 11 PM daily to facilitate the movement of civilians and aid vehicles.

Following widespread international criticism over the worsening famine in Gaza, Israel has also claimed to have airdropped humanitarian aid into the territory. In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israeli military said, “As part of ongoing efforts to enable and enhance the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, aerial aid deliveries have been carried out.”

The statement added that these actions aim to improve conditions in Gaza and counter what it called “false claims” that Israel is deliberately causing famine.

However, heads of UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations have expressed strong skepticism about the effectiveness of such measures. They argue that air deliveries are inadequate and may pose additional dangers to already starving populations.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), remarked, “Airdrops cannot end extreme hunger. They are expensive, ineffective, and in some cases, deadly for civilians affected by famine.”

Humanitarian groups continue to call on Israel to lift restrictions on land-based aid convoys to ensure timely delivery of essential food, water, and medical supplies to over two million besieged residents of Gaza.

Reuters also reported that Egypt’s state-backed Cairo News TV confirmed the departure of aid convoys from Egypt to Gaza following international appeals and warnings of impending famine. Al Jazeera aired social media videos showing aid trucks moving through the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side.

Similarly, aid is reportedly being sent to Gaza via Jordan. According to Al Jazeera, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate released a video claiming that Jordanian aid convoys are en route to Gaza. The footage shows supply-laden trucks slowly moving along a highway.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the decision to pause military operations for humanitarian reasons. In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, Herzog said, “I welcome the significant steps taken by the Israeli leadership and military to strengthen the humanitarian response in Gaza, especially the decision to implement humanitarian pauses for the protection of civilian lives and safe aid delivery.”

He also called on the United Nations to play a more active role and blamed the food shortage on the UN’s alleged ineffectiveness and Hamas’s purported misuse of aid.

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