Pause in Israel's Gaza Onslaught

Tactical: Secure Routes to Tackle Hunger Crisis

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Israel declared a "tactical pause" in fighting in parts of Gaza yesterday and said it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.

The military also said it had begun air-dropping food into the territory and angrily rejected allegations it was using starvation as a weapon against Palestinian civilians.

In a statement, the army said it coordinated its decisions with the UN and international organizations to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip".