The decision faced opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on June 16.
Israel’s military declared on June 16 a temporary halt to fighting during the daytime along a specific route in southern Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the troubled region.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated on June 16 that the pause in military activity along a 7.4-mile stretch of road in Rafah was intended to allow aid trucks to reach the Kerem Shalom crossing and travel safely to the Salah a-Din highway. This pause was not a complete cease-fire, as requested by several countries and international organizations.
While the announcement was welcomed by a U.N. humanitarian spokesperson, Jens Laerke, no aid had been dispatched from Kerem Shalom on that day. He expressed hope for further concrete measures by Israel to improve aid operations in the region.
Some Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized the IDF’s decision, stating that they were not informed of the “tactical pause” and that the fighting in Rafah continued as planned.
The announcement came after former Gen. Benny Gantz resigned from the Netanyahu government, citing a lack of strategy in Gaza. It also followed a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Mr. Netanyahu to discuss a possible cease-fire and increased aid for Gaza.
Mr. Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ support for Israel’s security efforts but emphasized the need for policies to promote calm along Israel’s borders and prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating. Can you rephrase this?
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