Israel announced a "tactical pause" in fighting in parts of Gaza daily from 10 am to 8 pm, effective Sunday, to facilitate humanitarian aid and address a worsening hunger crisis. The military stated it would open "designated secure routes" across Gaza for UN and aid agency convoys, also claiming to have begun air-dropping food. These actions, they said, refute allegations of using starvation as a weapon.

However, humanitarian organizations remained skeptical, awaiting tangible results. Over 100 NGOs recently warned of "mass starvation" in Gaza, and UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini criticized air drops as "expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians," advocating for a lifted siege and full access. Meanwhile, on Saturday, over 50 more Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes, some near aid distribution centers, and Israeli troops boarded an activist boat attempting to reach Gaza by sea.