Israel began “tactical pauses” in fighting for “humanitarian purposes” from 10am to 8pm (07:00-17:00 GMT) in al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City, starting on Sunday. Despite the pauses, Israeli forces have killed at least 53 Palestinians in attacks on Gaza since the early hours of Sunday, as six more Palestinians starve to death. They have seized the Freedom Flotilla’s Handala ship, detaining its 21 crew members, as they attempted to break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 59,733 people and wounded 144,477. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive.
Jordan, UAE airdrop 25 tonnes of aid
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted 25 tonnes of aid into the Gaza Strip in their first airdrop in months, a Jordanian official tells Reuters.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows parcels of aid falling in a northwestern area of Gaza City although it is unclear whether the aid drops shown are part of the Jordanian and Emirati campaign.
Former UNRWA spokesperson calls for Gaza’s land crossings to be open ’24/7′
Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness says Israel announced its “tactical pauses” for humanitarian purposes because the “horses of genocide and ethnic cleansing” have left the stables.
“Gaza’s land borders must immediately be opened 24/7, making these undignified airdrops unnecessary. Let’s not forget that over 100 people have been starved to death by Israel. [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu must face international justice for the crime of starvation,” Gunness told Al Jazeera.
Gunness explained that Israel implements “huge obstacles” to the UN and other aid agencies.
“Israel has shown itself, time and time again, to say it’s going to be letting in aid. Then of course, it gets delayed, they get rerouted, the convoys get shot at. Once they arrive, the warehouses and the food distribution services and centres have been destroyed and damaged by Israel,” he added.
