10-hour pause, but no peace: Gaza reels from famine, 38 dead; UAE, Jordon airdrop aid from sky – Top developments
As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens amid ongoing war, a mix of symbolic gestures and limited policy shifts is playing out on the ground. With global criticism mounting over the scale of civilian casualties and the near-collapse of aid operations, Israel has begun a daily “tactical pause” in parts of Gaza to allow humanitarian deliveries, though deadly strikes continue. Meanwhile, Jordan and the UAE have stepped in with emergency airdrops. Here’s a breakdown of the latest key developments:Jordan, UAE drop 25 tonnes of aid over Gaza
- Two Jordanian planes and one from the UAE carried out airdrops on Sunday, delivering 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian aid, according to the Jordanian military.
- The drops targeted multiple areas across Gaza, responding to warnings of looming famine and rising deaths linked to hunger.
Israel begins daily ‘tactical pause’ in fighting
- The Israeli military has launched a daily 10-hour “tactical pause” in three areas: Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi (10 am to 8 pm local time), to allow movement of aid convoys.
- However, Israeli airstrikes continued even during these hours, killing at least 38 Palestinians, including 23 people reportedly waiting for aid.
- Gaza’s health ministry said a woman and her four children were killed in one such strike on an apartment in Gaza City.
Strikes near aid sites raise alarm
- In Nuseirat, 13 people, including four children, were killed near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution point, according to Awda Hospital.
- GHF denied any incident at its facility. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the reports.
Famine deepens amid aid bottlenecks
- The World Food Programme estimates one-third of Gaza’s population goes days without eating, with half a million people on the brink of famine.
- Aid access was cut off entirely for nearly 2.5 months after a deadly incident in March. Since May, only 69 trucks per day have entered Gaza, far below the 500–600 daily that UN agencies say are necessary.
- Israel has endorsed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a new aid channel bypassing the UN, but rights groups say over 1,000 people have died seeking food, and distribution remains chaotic and dangerous.
Medical supplies, food critically low
- Gaza’s health ministry called for an urgent “flood” of aid, warning that hospitals and clinics are out of essential medicines and equipment.
- Dr Muneer al-Boursh said, “Every delay is measured by another funeral.”
- UNICEF called the tactical pause an “opportunity to save lives,” though the Norwegian Refugee Council said it was “far from enough to meet the overwhelming needs.”
Ceasefire talks break down again
- Peace talks have stalled, with both Israel and the US recalling negotiators from Qatar.
- Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi dismissed the pause as a PR move, “Israel is trying to change its image… but it will not escape punishment.”
- Israel insists it will not stop until Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, terms Hamas has rejected.
Death toll surges on both sides
- More than 59,700 Palestinians have been killed since October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry; over half are reportedly women and children.
- The Israeli military reports 898 soldiers killed since the start of ground operations.
- The conflict began after Hamas’ October 7 attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages taken, 50 remain in captivity, and many are believed dead.
