In a surprising turn of events, the Israeli military announced on June 16, 2024, that it would implement daily tactical pauses in fighting along a key road in the southern Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery. The pause was scheduled between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., allowing for increased distribution of food aid to Palestinians living in the enclave, where international organizations had issued warnings about hunger.
However, not all Israeli officials were in favor of this decision. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the resignation of the person who made it and accused the IDF of being detached from soldiers on the ground and focusing too much on international legitimacy instead of winning the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in, sending a statement through a senior Israeli official clarifying that an eleven-hour tactical pause in Rafah was unacceptable and there was no change in the IDF's policy. Despite this, fighting continued in Rafah according to the IDF.
The announcement of daily pauses came as international pressure mounted on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza amid ongoing conflict with Hamas. The Israeli military had previously announced a tactical pause for Eid al-Adha, but it was met with criticism from far-right nationalist religious parties in Netanyahu's ruling coalition.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly due to the ongoing conflict, with reports of shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The United Nations and other international organizations have called for increased access to the enclave to alleviate the suffering of its residents.
Despite these challenges, it is important to note that all sources should be approached with skepticism due to potential biases. It is crucial for journalists to remain objective and provide a complete and factual story without propagandizing or repeating what the mainstream media is saying.
