The Israeli military announced on Sunday a daily "local tactical pause of military activity" in populated areas of the Gaza Strip, including Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting this week, to increase the scope of humanitarian aid. The IDF stated this move, coordinated with the UN and international organizations, aims to facilitate the safe passage of aid convoys. The military also designated "secure routes" from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to enable the delivery of food and medicine to the population across Gaza. According to the IDF, these measures will be implemented in areas where ground troops are not currently operating and will continue "until further notice." The IDF affirmed its commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts alongside ongoing operations against terrorist organizations. Separately, Hamas issued a press statement condemning the Israeli army's interception of the "Handala" ship in international waters, labeling it an "act of terrorism and piracy." Hamas called for international condemnation of the action and held the Israeli government responsible for the safety of the activists aboard, urging continued efforts to break the siege on Gaza. Meanwhile, reports indicated that negotiations with Hamas were reportedly returning to their course, with one source suggesting significant progress was being made. The IDF stated it is "prepared to expand the scale of this activity as required" to protect Israeli civilians while supporting humanitarian efforts.
