Israeli Military Launches Full-Scale Operation in Gaza City, Humanitarian Pauses Suspended

The Israeli military has begun the initial phase of a full-scale operation in Gaza City. On Friday, the city was declared a “war zone,” and daily humanitarian pauses will no longer be implemented.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on social media, “We are not waiting. The initial stage of the attack and preliminary operations in Gaza City have already begun.” He added that troops are currently conducting operations with significant force along the city’s outskirts.

On the same day, Israel claimed to have recovered the body of Ilan Weiss, an Israeli who was killed in the October 7, 2023 attack and whose body had been taken into Gaza.

Furthermore, the military announced that from 10 a.m. local time, no “tactical pauses” will be observed in Gaza City. These pauses previously allowed limited humanitarian aid and food supplies to enter the area.

UNICEF has warned that famine in Gaza City is reaching catastrophic levels. On Friday, spokesperson Tess Ingram stated, “It is evident that famine is tearing Gaza City apart. Countless caregivers are now completely despairing, as they have no other means of support.”

At a local nutrition center in Gaza City, the number of malnourished children has sharply increased. Staff are assessing children’s risk by measuring hand sizes. Those at risk are being given fortified biscuits, while severely malnourished children receive specialized therapeutic food paste to gradually recover over several weeks.

Analysts warn that with the start of the military operation in Gaza City, the humanitarian crisis is likely to deepen further.