Israeli military announces 'tactical pause' to try to increase aid flow into Gaza
NBCJun 22
Israel Announces Daily 'Tactical Pause' In Gaza for Aid Delivery
Above: The Rafah border Image copyright: Ali Moustafa/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Israel's military announced on Sunday that it would pause fighting between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time along a main road in southern Gaza to allow aid deliveries to reach Palestinians.
The daily "tactical pause of military activity" applies to a route that leads from the Kerem Shalom Crossing up the Salah al-Din Road and northwards to the European Hospital near Khan Younis.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The military's decision, taken without the Israeli war cabinet or Netanyahu's approval at a time when the best Israeli soldiers are being killed, will only bring Tel Aviv more dead and fallen. Israeli operation in southern Gaza is necessary to oust Hamas from its last major stronghold. Israel shouldn't let mounting international pressure divert from the goals of war.
Pro-establishment narrative
The daily tactical pause doesn't mean operations against Hamas in southern Gaza will stop. The pause in fighting followed talks with international aid agencies to ease the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza in a specific area, as deliveries from the US-built pier were suspended. There's neither a change in the military's policy nor a halt in the war.
Pro-Palestine narrative
This pause is contrary to Israel's war cabinet's decisions, suggesting it could be a sham. Moreover, it isn't clear how the military will enable more aid to get distributed safely to the civilians, as aid convoys have been repeatedly attacked in recent weeks. However, if the tactical pause holds, it would help address some of the needs of beleaguered Palestinians facing catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.