Israel Announces Daily 10‑Hour Ceasefires in Gaza to Facilitate Aid Amid Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
Israel initiates 10-hour daily pauses in Gaza operations to allow humanitarian aid. Relief efforts begin amid growing hunger crisis and international pressure.
NewsSutra
In a move reflecting both international pressure and rising humanitarian alarm, Israeli authorities have formally initiated daily 10-hour pauses in military operations across key areas of Gaza. The aim: to open humanitarian corridors, enable delivery of critical supplies, and respond to worsening conditions on the ground. The ceasefires—enacted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day—cover some of the most heavily populated and conflict-ridden parts of Gaza, including Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Mawasi.
The announcement follows growing outcry from aid agencies and global actors, who have repeatedly called on Israel to scale back its military campaign and prioritize civilian protection. The Gaza conflict, now into its tenth month, has triggered deepening instability, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating to unprecedented levels.
The Structure of the Pauses
The newly structured pauses are not full ceasefires but tactical suspensions of active military engagement, concentrated in designated zones. According to defense sources familiar with the plan, these areas have been carefully chosen based on their population density, humanitarian needs, and the intensity of previous conflict.
Each morning at 10 a.m., Israeli forces are to disengage from targeted operations in the specified areas, allowing aid convoys to begin movement. The corridors will remain open until 8 p.m., with added flexibility extended to authorized humanitarian vehicles up until 11 p.m. for logistical maneuvering. This framework is expected to be in place for an indefinite period, reviewed daily based on developments on the ground.
These operational pauses, while limited in scope, represent a marked departure from Israel’s earlier tactics, which relied heavily on sweeping incursions and aerial bombardment. Military sources maintain that the rest of Gaza remains under active watch, with the Israel Defense Forces retaining the right to respond to any security threat during the pause hours.
Humanitarian Airdrops Begin Amid Aid Blockades
In tandem with the ceasefire zones, Israel, in coordination with regional partners, has initiated airdrops of food and essential supplies into northern and central Gaza. The first of these drops—conducted in partnership with Middle Eastern allies—delivered staple food items including flour, lentils, cooking oil, and dried milk.
However, logistical complexities remain immense. Sources close to the airdrop efforts reported that landing zones had to be meticulously cleared and secured in advance. Even with GPS guidance, some of the aid packages missed their intended targets, landing in overcrowded residential zones and causing minor injuries.
Medical volunteers stationed in the north confirmed that while the aid was welcome, it barely made a dent in the growing nutritional crisis. Hospitals and clinics report an alarming rise in cases of malnutrition, anemia, and dehydration, particularly among infants and elderly residents.
Hunger Crisis Deepens Despite Efforts
International health organizations monitoring the situation in Gaza estimate that over 1.7 million residents—nearly 80% of the enclave's population—are now food insecure. The few operational markets within Gaza operate at inflated prices, leaving most families unable to purchase even basic goods. Power shortages have also disrupted the refrigeration and storage of perishable items, compounding the food crisis.
According to local health workers, at least 133 deaths have been attributed to hunger-related conditions in the past two months alone. July witnessed the highest toll yet, with 63 fatalities, nearly half of them children under the age of five.
Water scarcity has also reached critical levels. The main desalination plants remain offline due to fuel shortages, and potable water supplies are almost nonexistent in several neighborhoods. Aid groups attempting to deliver clean water have faced logistical hurdles and occasional clashes with desperate civilians.
Aid Delivery Still Faces Political Roadblocks
The delivery of aid within Gaza is further complicated by the absence of a unified humanitarian coordination mechanism. Following a realignment of responsibilities earlier this year, a newly established body—unaffiliated with the United Nations—was put in charge of Gaza's humanitarian distribution. This shift has led to a fractured response, as several established agencies chose not to participate, citing operational transparency concerns.
As a result, aid parcels vary greatly in quality and consistency. Families report receiving food boxes with insufficient calories and lacking vital proteins. Complaints have surfaced about expired or poorly packaged items as well. The uneven distribution of aid has led to rising tensions in displaced persons’ camps and spontaneous protests in some regions.
Despite the Israeli government’s assertion that daily pauses would dramatically improve access, many on the ground remain skeptical. They argue that without a full ceasefire and sustained international oversight, the new plan is unlikely to provide durable relief.
Domestic and International Reaction
Domestically, the Israeli leadership has framed the pause strategy as a “balanced humanitarian response” that maintains national security while reducing civilian suffering. Government spokespeople insist that the plan underscores Israel’s commitment to abide by international law and mitigate collateral damage.
However, the move has been met with mixed reactions internationally. Several human rights organizations have welcomed the shift as a “first meaningful gesture toward de-escalation”, but warn that the root causes of the crisis remain unresolved. They continue to urge for unfettered access to all areas of Gaza, particularly the northern sectors which have been largely cut off for weeks.
In Washington and Brussels, diplomats are cautiously optimistic but maintain pressure on Israel to ensure that the humanitarian corridors remain open and that they are monitored for compliance. Talks are ongoing to explore whether the daily pauses can be expanded into longer-term ceasefire agreements, possibly leading to a negotiated settlement.
Uncertain Outlook for Gaza
While the implementation of daily 10-hour pauses marks a tactical shift, it is not yet clear whether it will fundamentally alter the trajectory of the crisis. Aid workers on the ground describe a race against time—not just to deliver food and water, but to restore dignity, shelter, and hope to a battered civilian population.
The people of Gaza, many of whom have been displaced multiple times during the current conflict, remain in makeshift camps, often without basic sanitation or electricity. Schools have turned into emergency shelters, and entire neighborhoods lie in ruins, with reconstruction efforts stalled by border closures and a lack of materials.
The hope now rests on the ability of the pause initiative to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive peace strategy, one that does not just pause the violence temporarily but seeks to resolve the long-standing issues that have led to repeated flare-ups.
Conclusion
The daily humanitarian pauses initiated by Israel offer a tentative lifeline to Gaza’s struggling population. While they signify a shift in tone and offer short-term relief, the scope and scale of the effort remain limited against the backdrop of the deep humanitarian emergency unfolding in the enclave. As the world watches closely, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether these pauses can evolve into lasting peace mechanisms or remain fleeting windows amid continued devastation.
