Israel Halts Southern Gaza Route for Aid Delivery, Offensive Continues in Rafah Israel has announced a temporary “pause” on airstrikes and artillery fire along the southern Gaza route to allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not ceased their offensive in Rafah, a city bordering Egypt in southern Gaza. The announcement came after international pressure mounted on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where at least 830 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in the ongoing conflict. The IDF said the pause would allow for the delivery of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel, into Gaza. The United Nations estimates that at least 50,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes due to the fighting. However, the IDF emphasized that the offensive in Rafah would continue, aiming to destroy Hamas tunnels and prevent the movement of militants. Rafah has been a key entry point for weapons smuggling into Gaza, and the IDF has accused Hamas of using the tunnels to launch attacks against Israel. The pause on the southern Gaza route provides some relief to the humanitarian crisis but does not address the ongoing offensive in Rafah. It remains unclear how long the pause will last or whether it will be extended to other areas of Gaza. The international community has called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but both sides have so far rejected the calls. The conflict has escalated in recent days, with both sides launching airstrikes and rocket attacks. The Palestinian Authority has accused Israel of committing war crimes during the conflict, while Israel has defended its actions as necessary to protect its citizens from Hamas attacks.Israeli Army Announces Aid Distribution Pause in Southern GazaIsraeli Army Announces Aid Distribution Pause in Southern Gaza Jerusalem (CNN) – The Israeli army has announced a “tactical pause” of military activity along a route in southern Gaza to allow aid to be distributed but stressed that fighting will not stop in and around Rafah in southern Gaza. The break began on Saturday and will run every day from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time until further notice to allow trucks to move from the Kerem Shalom crossing, the main entry point for incoming aid to southern Gaza, to the Salah al-Din highway and north, the IDF said. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has triggered a humanitarian crisis. An aid bottleneck has built up in Kerem Shalom amid airstrikes and fighting across much of southern Gaza. The IDF has designated a route from Kerem Shalom to Al Bayuk and the European Hospital in Khan Younis to be open during the day only for the transportation of humanitarian aid. It will be carried out in coordination with international organizations, he said, as part of efforts to increase aid volumes reaching Gaza. But shortly after announcing the measure, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that “fighting in Rafah continues,” adding that “there is no change in the entry of goods into the Strip.” Fierce fighting that has taken place in Rafah as Israel seeks to destroy Hamas in Gaza continued on Sunday, with a civil defense official in Gaza telling CNN that heavy fighting is taking place in western Rafah neighborhoods. On Saturday, eight IDF soldiers were killed near the city, one of the deadliest incidents of the war for Israeli troops.Israel has announced a “pause” on the southern Gaza route to allow aid to enter, but has not ceased the Rafah offensive. The move comes after a day of intense fighting that saw Israeli forces kill at least 25 Palestinians and wound hundreds more. The pause will allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which has been closed for several days. However, it is unclear how long the pause will last, and Israeli forces continue to shell the Rafah area. The Israeli military said the pause is intended to allow civilians to evacuate the area and for aid to be delivered. However, Palestinian officials said the pause is not enough and that Israel must end its offensive in Rafah completely. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the international community has expressed growing concern over the escalating violence.