Israel halts aid pauses in famine-hit Gaza City, calls it ‘dangerous combat zone’

CAIRO – 29 August 2025: The Israeli army announced it has begun the “initial” stage of its operation to take over Gaza City, which, during the war, had been home to nearly half of the enclave’s 2.2 million residents.

While a UN-backed report has confirmed famine in Gaza City, the army stated on Friday that the “tactical pauses” announced last month to allow limited aid deliveries to specific areas across the Strip will no longer apply to the city.

The decision took effect at 10 a.m. local time today, according to the Israeli military, which has declared Gaza City a “dangerous combat zone.”

'Die of Hunger, or Surrender'

These directives follow comments made last week by Israel’s hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested that those refusing to evacuate Gaza City ahead of the planned operation “can die of hunger or surrender,” according to Israeli reports.

Israel’s operation in Gaza City has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, including many of Tel Aviv’s Western allies, with the notable exception of the United States.

Israel’s Channel 12 News quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior adviser Ron Dermer as saying that US President Donald Trump supports a quick and decisive operation.

Aid organizations have accused Israel of systematically starving Palestinians, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the confirmed famine in Gaza as a “failure of humanity.”

Famine Confirmed

A report published last week by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) officially confirmed famine in Gaza City and surrounding areas for the first time.

The analysis found that over half a million people in Gaza are currently trapped in famine conditions, and projected that by the end of September, famine will spread across the enclave.

It further warned that by June 2026, more than 100,000 children under the age of five will be at risk of death due to acute malnutrition.

Israel has dismissed the IPC report, with Netanyahu calling it an “outright lie.”

Gaza’s Health Ministry has so far reported 317 deaths from famine and malnutrition across the strip, including 121 children. The total death toll from the war, excluding starvation-related fatalities, has approached 63,000.

Israeli forces have also targeted Palestinians near humanitarian aid distribution centers operated by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

According to the ministry, 2,180 people have been killed and 16,046 injured while attempting to access aid.