Israeli soldiers near the border with the Gaza Strip, June 13, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
The decision was unexpected. On Sunday, amid the al-Adha holiday, the Israeli army said it would pause the fighting daily along the route linking the Kerem Shalom crossing to the European hospital in Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian enclave.“A tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until further notice,” the army said in a statement. However, this measure was not met with unanimous approval among Israeli politicians, with Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denying that he was aware of the decision. According to official army statements, the move was prompted by efforts to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, in response to requests of the UN agencies that have been struggling to deliver aid along this route. Delivering aid has become extremely dangerous since...
The decision was unexpected. On Sunday, amid the al-Adha holiday, the Israeli army said it would pause the fighting daily along the route linking the Kerem Shalom crossing to the European hospital in Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian enclave.“A tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until further notice,” the army said in a statement. However, this measure was not met with unanimous approval among Israeli politicians, with Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denying that he was aware of the decision. According to official army statements, the move was prompted by efforts to increase humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, in response to requests of the UN agencies that have been struggling to deliver aid along this route. Delivering aid has become extremely dangerous...