As usual, the chaos in Gaza continues. Despite the Israeli military’s grand Sunday announcement of “tactical pauses” for humanitarian aid, the fighting rages on in Rafah and southern Gaza. This was confirmed by Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, during a press conference in Oslo on Monday.
What They Are Saying
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a display of classic double-talk, slammed the military’s plan for daily pauses in fighting. Apparently, he missed the memo. Lazzarini, the head honcho of UNRWA, the main body trying to get aid into Gaza, was clear: there has been no actual pause.
“So far, there’s been a lot of talk, but no action,” Lazzarini told reporters. “Hostilities are very much alive in Rafah and southern Gaza. On the ground, nothing has changed.”
The Israeli military insists its forces are carrying out precise, intelligence-based operations in Rafah, which, surprise surprise, include intense ground combat and the destruction of weapons. Over the weekend, they made a big deal about pausing operations daily from 0500 GMT to 1600 GMT, especially along the route from the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road. Yet, they later clarified—because they’re good at that—that normal operations would continue unabated in Rafah.
Why It Matters
Residents have reported that Israeli forces are pushing deeper into central and western Rafah, accompanied by heavy fire from both ground and air forces. Hamas and other armed groups are reportedly fighting tooth and nail within the Al-Shaboura camp in Rafah, filling the air with relentless explosions and gunfire.
Lazzarini further mentioned that the UNRWA had received a notice about the so-called pause from the Israeli military, but it was only in English—nothing like effective communication, right? Soon after, the Israeli government contradicted this notice.
“So far, there is absolutely nothing that fits the definition of a ‘pause’,” Lazzarini concluded.
Bottom Line
So, in a nutshell, the promise of humanitarian pauses in Gaza appears to be just that—a promise, with no real pause in sight. The situation remains as dire as ever, with no end to the hostilities in Rafah and southern Gaza.
