The Israeli military has carried out several attacks across Gaza, killing over 53 people – including 32 aid seekers – despite announcing a “tactical suspension” of operations in three areas.
According to Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary, air strikes hit an Israel-designated “safe zone” in Gaza City.
A bakery was targeted in the attack, with at least five Palestinians killed – including a woman and her four children – and several others wounded, according to health officials.
Early on Sunday, the Israeli army announced a 10-hour daily pause of military operations from 10am (7am GMT) to 8pm (5pm GMT) in the areas of al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City.
The military said this was part of a framework of “humanitarian efforts to expand the entry of aid”, adding that the plan included “sustainably secured corridors” from 6am to 11pm.
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However, several areas across the besieged enclave reported shelling, including relief distribution and delivery zones.
The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has risen to 59,821, with over 144,851 wounded since 7 October 2023.
Airdropped aid amid siege
Despite warnings from international organisations that airdropped aid could endanger civilians, the Israeli military announced late on Saturday that it would resume aerial deliveries of humanitarian packages to Gaza.
“Aerial airdrops of aid will resume. The airdrop includes 7 pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food,” it said in a post on X.
Several rights groups and experts have criticised this method of relief distribution, warning that it puts Palestinian lives at risk and noting that the quantity of aid is insufficient.
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Clips online show Palestinians desperately grabbing at supplies, as overcrowding could be seen in the footage shared.
“Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction & screensmoke,” UN chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote in a post on X.
“Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper & safer. It’s more dignified for the people of #Gaza.”
A Middle East Eye correspondent on the ground in Gaza said a few packages were airdropped over the Zeitoun area, east of Gaza City, and in the Tuam area, north of the Gaza Strip.
The two areas have been noted as “extremely dangerous” as they fall under the Israeli-designated expulsion zones in Gaza, where Palestinians risk being directly targeted even as unarmed civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced plans to “enable safe movement” of UN convoys delivering food, essentials and medicine supplies.
One MEE correspondent reported that 10 trucks entered through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, with several others passing through the Zikim crossing.
He added that two trucks entered via the Morag Corridor but were looted. It remains unclear whether any of the aid deliveries have successfully reached civilians.
