In response to the growing international criticism, Israel announced late on Saturday that it would implement a pause to its assault “in civilian centers and in humanitarian corridors to enable the distribution of aid supply” on Sunday. However, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specify which specific areas would see a “humanitarian pauses.” The ministry also blamed the United Nations for failing to distribute assistance in Gaza, a claim that has been rejected by both the UN and multiple aid and rights groups.
The Israeli military has killed dozens of people in Gaza, including 42 desperately seeking aid, as the starvation crisis in the territory deepens amid an international outcry. Medical sources told newsmen that Israeli attacks killed at least 71 people across Gaza on Saturday. The Ministry of Health in Gaza also reported five more deaths due to hunger caused by the Israeli blockade of the enclave, bringing the total death toll from malnutrition to 127 since the war began. The victims include 85 children.
UN officials have stressed that they have not received the necessary permits to safely distribute aid in the besieged enclave. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, called airdrops an expensive, inefficient “distraction” that would “not reverse the deepening starvation.” Lazzarini emphasized the need for Israel to “lift the siege, open the gates [and] guarantee safe movements [and] dignified access to people in need.”
The Israeli military also announced that it carried out airdrops of international aid over Gaza. However, humanitarian experts have warned that airdrops are dangerous to people on the ground and cannot serve as a substitute for safe land routes to distribute food and medical supplies. Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, raised questions over the newly announced Israeli steps, saying the airdrops’ effect is “equivalent to none.”
“We’re talking about only seven pallets of aid filled with flour and other basic necessities. That’s almost the load of one truck, or half of a truck, coming from the crossings into the Gaza Strip,” Mahmoud said. He cited witnesses who said the airdrops took place near a restricted military area in northern Gaza, making retrieving them in the dark especially difficult.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with many Palestinians facing an uncertain future. As the conflict continues, it is clear that a lasting solution is needed to address the humanitarian crisis and bring peace to the region.
Meanwhile, the Civil Defence agency in Gaza warned that none of its vehicles will be able to offer lifesaving services soon due to disrepair and lack of fuel, calling on the international community to act. “We stress the need for an urgent intervention to pressure the Israeli occupation authorities to allow fuel and repair parts for vehicles to enter,” the Civil Defence said in a statement.
In a separate incident, the Israeli military raided a ship of international activists carrying baby formula, food, and medical supplies to Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the aid ship, said the vessel was violently seized in international waters. Ann Wright, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Steering Committee, called for the protection of the international activists by their home countries.
The Gaza Government Media Office condemned the interception of the Handala ship as a crime of piracy, saying it represents a major violation of international law and the rules of maritime navigation. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the need for a humanitarian solution has never been more pressing.