(NewsNation) — Amid growing international pressure to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israel has announced an indefinite daily pause in military operations to allow for the distribution of aid.
The “tactical pause” will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, according to a social media post Sunday.
Malnutrition rises as access to aid remains limited
The announcement comes as severe acute malnutrition continues to rise across Gaza. One-fifth of children are currently affected, and up to half of those may not survive, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, co-founder and president of MedGlobal, told “NewsNation Now” on Monday.
MedGlobal delivers humanitarian aid to those in need around the world and has brought Sahloul to Gaza four times in the past four years.
“Every person in Gaza has some type of food insecurity,” he said.
Despite the temporary pause in fighting, many aid sites remain inaccessible due to the threat of violence and people in Gaza being physically unable to reach the locations.
“They know they may be killed waiting for food,” Sahloul added.
Aid restrictions and accusations of misuse
Israel has restricted aid to Gaza throughout the nearly two-year conflict, citing concerns that Hamas diverts supplies for its own use. From March through May, Israel blocked nearly all aid, according to The New York Times.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended Israel’s position during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” stating that over 94,000 truckloads of food have been supplied by Israel since the war began. He claimed, “Hamas has stolen the food, a huge amount.”
Critics, however, argue that these claims lack substantial evidence and that Israel’s unwillingness to allow for widespread distribution of aid is a major contributor to the crisis.
“Famine is getting worse, malnutrition is getting worse, and the reason is the blockade,” Sahloul said.
Temporary measures may be too little too late
While the “tactical pause” may allow for increased aid delivery temporarily, humanitarian organizations warn that it is not a long-term solution. Many argue that without a sustained ceasefire, the suffering will continue and get worse.
“Only giving food like this will not sustain the population. We need to have a ceasefire.” Sahloul said.