Palestinian Authorities Claim Israel’s “Tactical Pause” in Rafah Is a Lie

IDF vehicles attacking Rafah, June 2024 Photo: @KhalidIbnW15970

June 17, 2024 Hour: 8:52 pm

The alleged tactical break was announced for 08h00 and until 19h00, and would allow humanitarian aid to enter from the Keren Shalom crossing.

The Palestinian authorities described on Monday as a «lie» the decision announced on Sunday by the Israeli Army to apply tactical pauses in military activities to allow the entry of humanitarian aid.

The Kerem Shalom border crossing and the Rafah crossing, both south of the Gaza Strip and major aid entry points, were closed by Israel to deliberately prevent the flow of food, medicine and supplies, using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.

The press office of the Gazan authorities stressed «the destruction of the Rafah crossing by the occupation is part of their crimes in the Strip» and added «the situation in northern Gaza is tragic because of the shortage of food and medicine».

«We demand that the criminals of the occupation be tried, including political leaders and military officers», the text says.

On Sunday, the Israeli military declared a daily humanitarian pause, from 8pm to 7pm along a road in Rafah.

The Gaza government office said talk of "tactical pauses" was "an Israeli lie"https://t.co/n2BQzia5NV
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 17, 2024

The statement was issued after Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he had not been informed about the «tactical pause» announced by the army and promised an investigation into the chain of decisions.

Moreover, the Israeli occupying forces have set fire to the exit hall on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, thus isolating Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

After taking control of the Rafah crossing 40 days ago, the occupation set fire to the departure hall, as well as other facilities and structures, isolating Palestinians in Gaza from the outside world.

A number of Palestinian social networking sites posted photographs of the exit room completely burned down.

The Government Media Office in #Gaza said that the announced "tactical pause" in the war by the Israeli occupation is a lie.

The office urged the opening of the #Rafah crossing in order to provide the needs of the Palestinians, especially those in the north of the Gaza Strip.… pic.twitter.com/FEjjlDFADJ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 17, 2024

Hamas criticized the Israeli crime as «criminal and barbaric behaviour».

The movement stressed that this «Nazi behavior, which is a clear war crime, requires widespread international condemnation and the adoption of the necessary measures to hold the leaders of the occupation responsible for the destruction of a civilian facility».

The Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip raised on Monday to almost 37,350 the number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Palestinian territory more than eight months ago.