Israel to apply ‘humanitarian pause’ tomorrow, Foreign Ministry says
In a brief statement shared on social media, the Israeli Foreign Ministry says the pause will take place in “civilian centers and in humanitarian corridors to enable the distribution of aid supply” in Gaza.
It did not specify which specific civilian centres would be subjected to the pause.
The ministry again blamed the UN for failing to distribute assistance in Gaza. UN officials have rejected that Israeli talking point as false, stressing that they have not received the necessary permits to safely distribute aid in the besieged enclave.
‘Ineffective sideshow’: What have experts said about Gaza airdrops?
As we’ve been reporting, Israel has announced that airdrops of aid are beginning in Gaza tonight. But UN officials, rights advocates and other experts have slammed the scheme as dangerous and impractical. Here’s a quick roundup of what some of them have said:
- Jan Eliasson, former UN deputy secretary-general: “Dropping food from the air in Gaza is an ineffective sideshow. During my time as UN relief chief we had to stop such aid. Minimal amounts were delivered and chaos and accidents occurred on the ground. All entries into Gaza have to be opened and distribution handed back to the UN.”
- Kenneth Roth, ex-Human Rights Watch executive director: “Israel allowing airdrops of food into Gaza is just spectacle. Airdrops are notoriously expensive and inefficient. They are no way to feed two million starving Palestinians. Only an end to Israel’s effective blockade will do that — and stop the genocide.”
- HA Hellyer, RUSI senior associate fellow: “All this does is gives Israel a way to say they’re doing ‘something’ to respond to the mass famine that is underway which Israel is directly responsible for. If Israel is serious, it must open the border crossings into Gaza now.”
- Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA: “At UNRWA, we have the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan & Egypt waiting for the green light to get into Gaza. Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper & safer. It’s more dignified for the people of Gaza.”
