Israeli forces announce a ‘strategic ceasefire’ in southern Gaza

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it would impose a “strategic pause” in daily military operations in parts of the southern Gaza Strip.

“There will be a strategic pause in military activity between 8am and 7pm every day for humanitarian access purposes along the Salah al-Din Road crossing the Kerem Salom border and then the road to the north until further notice,” the military said in a statement.

The decision was made as part of efforts to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza after discussions with the United Nations and other organizations.

Israel has long interfered in efforts to facilitate the delivery of aid through the Kerem Shalom border, but human rights groups have warned of shortages of food and other essentials in Palestinian territories under siege for months.

According to the World Health Organization, more than eight thousand children under the age of five have been treated for severe malnutrition in Gaza.

International mediators are pressing Israel and Hamas to agree to U.S. President Joe Biden’s proposal for a hostage-prisoner exchange and aid-delivery ceasefire deal.

“The chaos within Gaza is making it impossible to provide aid at a level that meets the growing demands of the people because of the active conflict,” said Karl Schau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program. Agency