Gaza City, Aug 29 (AP) Israel’s military has suspended mid-day pauses to fighting, which had allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, saying on Friday that the city was now “a dangerous combat
zone.” The city was among the places that Israel paused fighting last month to allow food and aid supplies to enter from 10 am to 8 pm.
The “tactical pauses” applied to Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering. The suspension came as Israel prepared to widen its offensive in the city, days after it reported strikes in key neighbourhoods and called up tens of thousands of reservists.
Israel’s military did not say whether they had notified residents or aid groups of the impending declaration ahead of the 11:30 am announcement.
Israel has in the past called Gaza City a Hamas stronghold, with a network of tunnels that remain in use by militants after several previous large-scale raids.
The city also is home to some of the territory’s critical infrastructure and health facilities. The United Nations said Thursday the besieged strip could lose half of its hospital bed capacity if Israel invades as planned.
The suspension of the pause also comes one week after the world’s leading food security authority declared Gaza City was being gripped by famine after months of warnings.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, said hunger has been driven by fighting and Israel’s blockade on the majority of aid and magnified by widespread displacement and the collapse of food production.
Norwegian Refugee Council, which coordinates a coalition of aid groups active in Gaza, said Israel’s preparation for its large-scale ground offensive has made deliveries challenging.
“We have faced unprecedented access and movement restrictions,” spokesperson Shaina Low said Friday. “Intensified military operations are going to further hinder our ability respond.” UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said the looming offensive could further displace 1 million people, including many who were previously displaced.
“Any further escalation would deepen suffering and push more people toward catastrophe,” the agency said in a post on X. (AP) GSP
