Palestinians wary as Israel begins limited pauses to let aid into Gaza

Palestinians in Gaza have reacted with wariness after Israel began a limited, daily pause in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza to allow what Benjamin Netanyahu described as "minimal" aid into the territory.

- Malak A Tantesh, Gaza William Christou, Jerusalem

Scores of Palestinians have died of starvation in recent weeks in a crisis attributed by humanitarian organisations and the UN to Israel's blockade of almost all aid into the territory.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said 90,000 women and children were in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition and one in three people were going without food for days.

The Israeli military said it had begun a "tactical pause" in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid" into the strip. The pause would be repeated every day from 10am to 8pm local time until further notice and Israel would continue fighting in other areas of Gaza.

"Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies," the Israeli prime minister said in a statement, in an attempt to downplay the significance of the relaxing of Israel's blockade. Netanyahu has come under pressure from rightwing members of his coalition who want an even harsher approach in Gaza.

Soon after the humanitarian pause began, Israel carried out an airstrike on a building in Gaza City, killing a woman and her four children.