Israeli military initiates a daily 11-hour pause in its offensive to enhance aid deliveries in Gaza, amidst a growing humanitarian crisis and escalating tensions.
On June 15, 2024, the Israeli military announced a “tactical pause” in its southern Gaza Strip offensive to facilitate increased humanitarian aid deliveries. The pause, commencing daily at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) and lasting until 7 p.m. (1600 GMT), aims to allow aid trucks to safely reach the Kerem Shalom crossing and travel to Gaza via the Salah a-Din highway.
The coordinated effort with the U.N. and international aid agencies targets easing the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel’s eight-month military campaign against Hamas. The United Nations reported widespread hunger, with hundreds of thousands facing famine conditions. Despite an average of 201 trucks entering Gaza daily between May 2 and June 13, aid distribution has been bottlenecked since Israeli ground forces entered Rafah in early May.
On the same day, an explosion in Rafah killed eight Israeli soldiers, marking the deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months, further intensifying calls for a cease-fire amid ongoing public protests in Israel. Israeli officials have blamed the U.N. for logistical failures, whereas the U.N. cited safety concerns and Israeli military travel authorizations as impediments to aid distribution.
The tactical pause is intended to provide an 11-hour window each day for uninterrupted aid delivery. The security measures for the aid trucks during their transit remain unclear.
