Israel has introduced a temporary pause in military operations across parts of Gaza in what it calls a humanitarian effort to boost aid deliveries amid growing global concern over mass starvation in the besieged enclave.

In a statement released Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the daily "tactical pause" will take effect from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm in select areas not currently under active combat, including Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City.

The army said it had coordinated the move with the United Nations and other international humanitarian actors to increase the volume and safety of aid distribution.

While there was no immediate confirmation from the UN or major aid groups operating in Gaza, many humanitarian actors remain cautious. Privately, some agencies said they were waiting to see whether conditions on the ground would improve.

The announcement comes as hunger and malnutrition escalate rapidly across the territory, home to over two million Palestinians.

Humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that famine-like conditions are spreading, exacerbated by limited access, ongoing bombardment, and tight Israeli control over aid routes.

Alongside the ceasefire window, the Israeli military revealed it had initiated food airdrops and opened what it called “designated secure corridors” to allow relief convoys to deliver supplies across the territory.

The IDF dismissed growing international accusations that it is deliberately starving civilians as part of its war strategy.

“This is yet another effort to counter baseless claims of weaponizing hunger,” read the army’s statement, adding that all measures align with international law.

The limited reprieve comes more than three months after Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza in early March, following the breakdown of truce negotiations.

Only in late May did small quantities of aid resume flowing into the territory, but humanitarian officials say the effort remains grossly inadequate.

Aid air drops, including those now resumed by the United Arab Emirates and supported by Britain and Jordan, are viewed as largely symbolic.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini labelled them “costly, inefficient, and dangerous,” warning they cannot substitute for sustained, secure land access.

Meanwhile, violence on the ground continues. Over 50 Palestinians were reportedly killed on Saturday alone, according to Gaza's civil defense, many near food distribution centers. AFP could not independently verify the figures due to media restrictions and access limitations.

Tensions also flared at sea, as Israeli forces intercepted a vessel from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition attempting to breach the naval blockade and deliver aid to Gaza. Live feeds from the activist boat were cut moments after troops boarded it.

The humanitarian crisis unfolds against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing offensive, launched in response to the October 2023 Hamas-led attack that left 1,219 people dead, most of them civilians.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, the retaliatory campaign has killed over 59,700 Palestinians to date, with civilians making up the majority of those killed.

As international criticism mounts, the effectiveness and sincerity of Israel's latest humanitarian gestures remain under scrutiny.

Aid agencies warn that without sustained, safe, and large-scale relief corridors, the threat of famine and continued mass casualties will persist.