Row breaks out over IDF's daily 'tactical pause' in fighting in southern Gaza - as Netanyahu's ministers rage 'delusional' decision to let humanitarian aid flow into the region will bolster Hamas

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Israeli ministers have been shaken by the decision to push ahead with a daily 'tactical pause' in the fighting in areas of southern Gaza to facilitate the delivery of vital humanitarian aid as divisions continue to emerge within the cabinet.

Politicians on the far-right of Israel's cabinet argued the plan, announced earlier today, was 'delusional' and would risk undoing the 'achievements' of the war so far.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Internal Security Minister, derided 'whoever made this decision' as 'evil' and 'a fool who should not remain in his position'.

'It's time to get out of the [outdated pre-October 7 security] concept and stop the crazy and delusional approach that only brings us more dead and fallen,' he said in a statement today.

The humanitarian pauses, set to occur daily between 8am and 7pm local time, offer some respite to the beleaguered civilian population in Gaza unseen since the negotiation of a temporary ceasefire in November as aid groups warn of impending famine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to face divisions within the cabinet over Israel's conduct in Gaza, with pressure mounting both from Israelis at home and allies overseas.

Netanyahu speaks during a news conference at the Sheba Tel HaShomer Hospital in Ramat Gan following a successful mission to retrieve four hostages from Gaza 

Thousands holding banners gather during a demonstration to demand a hostage swap deal and the dismissal of Netanyahu's government, in Tel Aviv, on June 15

A woman uses a megaphone as people attend a demonstration against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv

A Palestinian girl with her knees in bandages hold a piece of dough to her chest as she walks along a street in Deir al-Balah, on June 13

A man carries an injured child following Israeli bombardment at al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on June 16

A man walks past buildings destroyed during the Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis on June 11

The IDF said today in a statement that it would cease 'military activity' in Gaza for 'humanitarian purposes' between 8am and 7pm (5am to 4pm GMT) every day 'until further notice' along the road connecting the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the Salah al-Din Road 'and then northwards'.

It later clarified this did not extend to a pause in the fighting in the wider southern Gaza Strip 'and the fighting in Rafah continues'. 

The decision was driven by instructions from Netanyahu to increase the flow of aid into Gaza by ensuring safe passage for convoys, it added.

Far-right ministers warned that the decision could allow Hamas to regroup and risked undermining the war effort so far.

'The manner in which the humanitarian effort in the Gaza Strip is being managed, in the framework of which aid goes largely to Hamas and helps it to retain civilian control of the Strip in direct contradiction to the goals of the war, has been bad throughout the last few months,' claimed Finance Minister Bezalel Smortrich following the announcement.

He said he had repeatedly warned that the delivery of such aid was 'one of the reasons for the continuation of the war and the resounding strategic failure'.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of the security cabinet, but not the war cabinet, complained he had been left out of the decision-making process by Netanyahu.

'Unfortunately, this move was not brought before the cabinet and is contrary to its decisions,' he said in a statement. 

Divisions continue to deepen within the broad coalition of government as the war rages on and Israel's conduct in Gaza is scrutinised from different angles.

Both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have threatened to bring down the coalition if Netanyahu ends the war, on advice of Israel's allies.

Former minister Benny Gantz, representing a more centrist position, quit the wartime unity government 'with a heavy heart' last Sunday after months of clashes with Netanyahu and other ministers.

'Unfortunately, Mr Netanyahu is preventing us from approaching true victory, which is the justification for the painful ongoing crisis,' he said during a news conference. 

The decision marked a potentially significant blow, with the former deputy prime minister seen as a balance to the far-right in the Israeli cabinet.

With Gantz gone, Netanyahu may rely more on support from ultra-nationalist parties at odds with Israel's biggest foreign partner in the United States.

Washington continues to mount pressure on Israel to find a route to a permanent ceasefire as protests nationwide draw focus to the civilian loss of life and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the Palestinian enclave claims at least 37,337 people have been killed since Israel entered Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' October 7 attacks.

Humanitarian groups have warned that the vast majority of the 2.3 million population faces famine more than 250 days in the war, with access to aid hindered by the conflict.

Ben-Gvir arrives at Jerusalem's Old City during the annual Jerusalem Day march, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, June 5

Israeli military armoured vehicles roll in an area bordering the Gaza Strip on June 9

Palestinians watch smoke billowing following an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on June 6

A Palestinian man carries water past destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis on June 11

Palestinians ride in the back of a loaded truck moving past tents of displaced people in Rafah, June 14

A Palestinian girl watches as others check a UN-school housing displaced people hit during Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, on June 6

Palestinian children wait in line to get food for their families, distributed by charitable organizations in Rafah, Gaza on February 16

Bezalel Smotrich arrives at the annual Jerusalem Day march on June 5

The announcement of regular pauses in the fighting was welcomed by the UN, although 'this has yet to translate into more aid reaching people in need', said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the OCHA agency.

He called for 'further concrete measures by Israel to address longstanding issues' on aid needs.

Laerke said Gazans 'urgently need food, water, sanitation, shelter, and health care, with many living near piles of solid waste, heightening health risks'.

'We need to be able to deliver aid safely throughout Gaza,' he added.

The UN and aid groups have repeatedly voiced alarm over shortages of food and other essentials in the Gaza Strip.

This has been exacerbated by overland access restrictions and the closure of the key Rafah crossing with Egypt since Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side in early May.

The US has sought to soften the impact by building a $320mn pier on the Mediterranean coast in May, allowing aid to flow more easily into the Strip.

But earlier this week, the UN said it would stop delivering the incoming aid to starving Palestinians until it could determine whether routes were safe for staff.

The UN cited a recent operation by Israeli security forces that saw the rescue of four hostages and killed more than 270 Palestinians on June 8.

The Israeli rescuers fled from the raid towards the pier on the coast, where an Israeli helicopter picked them up, according to the US and Israeli militaries.

The UN said the use of the pier caused doubt about whether they could continue working on the project without violating core humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence, and without risking aid workers being seen as allies to the US or Israel.

Such a perception could appear to make UN staff targets in their own right.

Israel and the US deny that the pier was used in the raid, claiming an area nearby was used instead.

A Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft drops humanitarian aid on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 4

The American-built Trident Pier in May 29 (top) and on May 26 (bottom). The Pentagon suspended aid deliveries on May 28 after the pier was damaged by bad weather

Soldiers attend the funeral of Israeli soldier Staff sergeant Stanislav Kostarev, who was killed amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, on June 16

Orly Efraim reacts near the marker of her niece Eden Liza Auhaion, who was killed on the October 7 Hamas deadly attack at the Nova music festival on April 7, 2024 in Re'im, Israel

Family members visit the memorial site for victims killed during the Nova music festival

Israeli soldiers inspect the burnt cars of festival-goers at the site of an attack on the Nova Festival by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, October 13, 2023

Adding to the troubles, US officials said on Friday that the pier had been detached to avoid it breaking apart in rough seas as it did in bad weather last month.

Aid groups continue to face difficulty getting essential supplies into Gaza with the war still raging.

Saleem (not his real name), an aid worker with global NGO Mercy Corps in Rafah, said: 'There's a genuine concern for a repeat of the famine scenario seen in the north. Additionally, we anticipate similar repercussions, such as the collapse of the health system and its subsequent challenges. 

'The north has already endured health and environmental disasters, where even moderate infections resulted in fatalities. It's worth noting that the hospitals in the north are more extensive and better equipped in terms of staff and resources.

'Should the invasion of Rafah persist without a ceasefire, the upcoming period will be marked by immense difficulty and tragedy. Expect to receive grim and distressing news and images from Rafah, surpassing the severity of what transpired in the north.' 

Earlier this month, Oxfam reported harrowing conditions across the Palestinian enclave.

In Al Mawasi, a region in the south filled with refugees, 'there are just 121 latrines for over 500,000 people', the British NGO warned.

Shortages have reportedly seen people paying up to $700 for 'the most basic tents... and there is so little space left that some have been forced to set up tents in the cemetery at Deir al-Balah'.

Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam's Middle East and North Africa Director, said: 'Israel claimed weeks ago that they would provide full humanitarian support and medical assistance to civilians it had told to move. 

'Not only is this not happening, its ongoing impunity, bombardment and deliberate obstruction have created unprecedented and impossibly dangerous conditions for humanitarian agencies to operate.'

While the 'tactical pause' has brought 'near calm' to the Strip, according to Mahmud Basal, spokesman for the civil defence agency in Gaza, Palestinians marked Eid al-Adha without the usual holiday spirit.

'This Eid is completely different,' said Umm Muhammad al-Katri in northern Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp.

'We've lost many people. There's a lot of destruction. We don't have the joy we usually have,' she told AFP. Instead, 'I came to the Eid prayers mourning. I've lost my son.'

Protesters use smoke torches during a demonstration calling for an hostages deal on June 15

The protesters in Tel Aviv rallied against Benjamin Netanyahu and his government

A drone view shows a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and a call for the release of hostages, in Tel Aviv on Saturday

Police officers arrest protesters during a demonstration calling for an hostages deal

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas following the Palestinian group's unprecedented October 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Hamas also seized some 250 hostages in their rampage through southern Israel. Of these, 116 remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 are dead.

Israel continues to face significant protests at home from hostage supporters demanding a ceasefire before any more die or are killed.

Thousands attended a rally last night in Tel Aviv to demand the government back a deal to end the war and release the remaining captives as one of the four hostages freed on June 8 called on the public to join.

Andrey Kozlov, who spent 245 days in Gaza after his abduction, said the rallies gave him 'a lot of hope' on Friday.

Israel and Hamas have not been able to agree terms to a permanent ceasefire despite mediation efforts from the US, Qatar and Egypt.

Both sides blame each other for the lack of progress.