Israel says it's launching an attack on Gaza City, halts humanitarian pauses

The Israeli military machine said on fri that it has begun prelim trading operations and the initial stages of a planned violative on Gaza City, adding that it is currently operating with great force on the outskirts.

Earlier on Friday, Israel's military said it was suspending mid-day pauses that allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, calling it a "a dangerous combat zone."

The city was among the places that Israel paused fighting last month to allow food and aid supplies to enter from 10 a.m. To 8 p.m. Local time.

The "tactical pauses" applied to Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, three places where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering. The pivot came as Israel prepared to broaden its offensive, mobilizing tens of thousands of troops to seize Gaza City.

Israel's military did not say whether they had notified residents or aid groups about the plans to resume daytime hostilities.

Israel has said in the past that Gaza City is a Hamas stronghold, with a network of tunnels that remain in use by militants after several previous large-scale raids. The city also is home to some of the territory's critical infrastructure and health facilities. 

The United Nations said Thursday that the besieged strip could lose half of its hospital bed capacity if Israel invades as planned.

The war in Gaza has killed almost 63,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israel has recovered the body of  hostage Ilan Weiss from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

Items belonging to a second individual, whose identity has not yet been cleared for publication, were also retrieved, the statement added. 

Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas-led militants almost 22 months ago, roughly 50 remain in Gaza including 20 that Israel believes to be alive.

According to a statement posted by the Israel Defence Forces on X, Weiss kidnapped and killed by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that started the war. His wife Shiri, 54, and daughter Noga, 19, were taken hostage into Gaza and released during the ceasefire deal in November 2023.

"May his memory be a blessing," the IDF added.

Body of Deceased Hostage Ilan Weiss Recovered<br><br>The body of Ilan Weiss, who was held hostage for 693 days in Gaza, has been recovered in a joint IDF and ISA military operation.<br><br>Ilan was from kibbutz Be’eri and left his home on the morning of October 7 to join the kibbutz… <a href="https://t.co/nk7rVxGTs7">pic.twitter.com/nk7rVxGTs7</a>

The suspension of the pause also comes one week after the world's leading food security authority declared Gaza City was being gripped by famine after months of warnings.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said hunger has been driven by fighting and Israel's blockade on the majority of aid and magnified by widespread displacement and the collapse of food production. 

The IPC analysis concluded hunger, starvation and child malnutrition had surpassed thresholds necessary to declare famine.

Norwegian Refugee Council, which co-ordinates a coalition of aid groups active in Gaza, said Israel's preparation for its large-scale ground offensive had already made deliveries challenging.

"We have faced unprecedented access and movement restrictions," spokesperson Shaina Low said Friday. "Intensified military operations are going to further hinder our ability respond."

How these Palestinians are fighting starvation in Gaza

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